Photo-optical luminance analysis of transfer films: Measurement principle, data analysis and result plotting

摘要

A novel method for the detection and quantification of transfer films is presented. It is based on the segmentation and numeric analysis of photographic images that are recorded continuously during a tribological experiment. From these, the change of the wear track luminance is extracted and used as quantitative measure for transfer film formation. In contrast to existing methods, the novel method is laterally extensive, in-situ applicable, time resolved, quantitative, infinitely sustainable and practically unrestricted concerning material selection. Its implementation in an ASTM G137 block-on-ring test and the procedure for data extraction and result plotting are reported in detail. Special attention is paid to the issue of wear track polishing, which when unaccounted for - can result in misleading data.