The use of scanning conduction microscopy to probe abrasion of insulating thin films

Abstract
The use of scanning force microscopy (SFM) to probe wear processes at interfaces is of considerable interest. A simple modification of the SFM which allows one to make highly spatially resolved measurements of conductivity changes produced by abrasion of thin insulating films on metal substrates is presented here. The technique is demonstrated on fluorocarbon polymer thin filmsdeposited on stainless‐steel substrates.