Assessment of wear behaviour of copper-based nanocomposite at the nanoscale

Abstract Nanoscale wear behaviour of copper-based nanocomposite with Al 2 O 3 nanoparticles have been investigated with the help of the circular mode atomic force microscopy (CM-AFM). The occurrence of running-in and steady-state wear regimes is similar to macroscopic behaviour described by Barwell. Archard's macroscopic wear equation, which states that the wear value is proportional to the applied load and independent on the sliding speed, is also valid at the nanoscale, with the limitation that the normal load should reach a threshold value to generate wear. Eventually, it is shown that the wear value at the nanoscale is highly dependent on the nature of the counter-body (AFM tip) material.