The field of surface metrology is one of the fastest growing areas of engineering and quality management. Because what happens at the interaction between two surfaces can affect the functionality and life span of a product, understanding the places where contact and interactions occur is vital for creating and producing effective product designs and manufacturing protocols.

In the medical field, equipment makers study how an artificial hip meets bone, or how to evenly coat a stent with medicine before implanting it. In the alternative energy arena, we evaluate the ability of photovoltaic panel surfaces to absorb sunlight. Auto manufacturers test the way paint adheres to the vehicle’s exterior. Pharmaceutical companies strive to manufacture pills that can be swallowed easily with coatings that reach the stomach before dissolving. The success of these products and many others is greatly determined by features of their surfaces and how they behave when in contact with other surfaces.

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