Surface Reflectance: An Optical Method for Multiscale Curvature Characterization of Wear on Ceramic-Metal Composites

Surface gradient characterization by light reflectance (SGCLR) is used for the first time for multiscale curvature calculations and discrimination of worn surfaces on six damaged ceramic-metal composites. Measurements are made using reflectance transformation imaging (RTI). Slope and curvature maps, generated from RTI, are analyzed instead of heights. From multiscale decompositions, bootstrapping, and analysis of variance (ANOVA), a strong correlation (R-2 = 0.90) is found between the density of furrows of Mehlum curvatures, with a band pass filter at 5.4 mu m, present in ceramic grains and their mechanical properties. A strong correlation is found between the mean curvatures of the metal and the ceramics, with a high pass filter at 1286 mu m.