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@article{Spikes:2001:10.1243/1350650011543529,
author = {Spikes, HA and Cann, PM},
doi = {10.1243/1350650011543529},
journal = {Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part J: Journal of Engineering Tribology},
pages = {261--277},
title = {The development and application of the spacer layer imaging method for measuring lubricant film thickness},
url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1243/1350650011543529},
volume = {215},
year = {2001}
}
TY - JOUR
AB - <jats:p>This paper reviews the historical development of optical interferometry as applied to the study of lubricant films. The technique was first applied to lubricated contacts in the 1960s, when it played an important role in the validation of the elastohydrodynamic theory of lubrication. Initially the method was not suited to the study of mixed and boundary lubrication because it could not measure film thicknesses of less than about 50 nm. In the 1970s, however, this limitation was partially overcome by the use of a spacer layer and this, coupled in the early 1990s with spectrometric analysis of the interfered light, enabled films down to just 1 nm thick to be measured in lubricated contacts, well within the boundary lubrication regime. Recently a number of workers have applied colorimetric image analysis to optical interference images to enable accurate three-dimensional maps of film distribution in lubricated contacts to be determined. This approach, coupled with the use of a spacer layer, has led to the spacer layer imaging method, which can map film thickness in boundary and mixed lubricated contact. Some recent applications of this technique are described.</jats:p>
AU - Spikes,HA
AU - Cann,PM
DO - 10.1243/1350650011543529
EP - 277
PY - 2001///
SN - 1350-6501
SP - 261
TI - The development and application of the spacer layer imaging method for measuring lubricant film thickness
T2 - Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part J: Journal of Engineering Tribology
UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1243/1350650011543529
UR - https://doi.org/10.1243/1350650011543529
VL - 215
ER -