Surface Finishing and Measurement
Dr Phillip Harrison, Commercial Manager Centre for Precision Technologies, University of Huddersfield

Above 90% of engineering failures originate at the surface of components. By accurate measurement and interpretation of these surfaces it has been possible to improve the lifetime of engineering components many times over.

Biomedical implants are engineered components with manufactured surfaces tailored to the use within the body. For example the head of a hip implant has a tightly specified sphericity and surface finish which have been designed to optimise he lifetime of the part. In turn the stem can be polished or textured depending on the design and the required method of fixation in the femur.

Work has been carried out on structured surfaces which are repeat patterns produced to carry out a certain function, high specification abrasives are an example of a structured surface. The technology is now available to produce measure and characterise a wide range of surfaces and hence produce these parts with the optimum surface characteristics for their final use. Nature has spent millions of years producing animal and plant life which are perfectly suited to their environment by a number of attributes including the surface. A great example of this is the lotus leaf effect where water forms globules that run off the surface collecting any dirt on their way cleaning the leaf. This effect has been replicated by using surface texture to produce self cleaning surfaces.

• Should we look more at nature to provide solutions?
• Do we have the technology to replicate nature?
• Where is the technology lacking?