Evaluation of Surface Texture Measuring Methods

A special round robin test program to evaluate the ability to measure surface texture of steel sheets with two types of instrumentation used by steel suppliers and automotive consumers is described. The instrumentation used is intended for measuring matte finish by determination of microinch roughness and peaks-per-inch density. Correlations between the two types of instruments are developed. Variations inherent in the surface texture of a single sheet, within and among instruments of the same type, are determined. It has been possible from this study to establish limits within which results are reproducible.