pps proceeding - Abstract Preview
pps proceeding
Symposium: S20 - Microtribology and Surface Analysis
Oral Presentation
 
 

Surface analytical fingerprint method to distinct originality of a product from its counterfeit

Weinhold W.P. (1)*, Weinhold Winfried (2), Nuss Matthias (3)

(1) Innowep GmbH, Haugerring 6 - Würzburg - Germany, (2) Technical University of Munich - TUM, Arcisstrasse 21 - Munich - Germany, (3) University of Würzburg, Sanderring 2 - Würzburg - Germany

The importance of product authenticity and quality can hardly be overestimated. An unauthorized copy of a product may violate patent and design rights. It also often damages the reputation of the OEM by its poor quality. This may create dangerous situations for the end-user (counterfeit breaking car pads) and for the manufacturers of complex systems. In turn, it demands for an appropriate choice of the proof criteria, which can be used universally without any additional security marks and security systems, and preferably in a mobile fashion. Here, one of the most important issues to be taken into account is the quantitative topographical and structural evaluation of the surface properties at the micro- and macroscopical scales, which are unique, like a human fingerprint, for a counterfeit and the original OEM product. In this work we present a new analytical and characterization method and its instrument, which measures in a mobile fashion the surface pattern and the visual appearance of a tested product. These properties can serve as macro and micro surface pattern characteristics, and, thus, be the criteria for the product authenticity compared with its counterfeits, and also as quality assurance marks. The capability of the method will be demonstrated on a free standing polymer mixing tip used in dental clinics and similar looking correspondent counterfeit products. The counterfeit mixing tips have caused problems for the customer (dentist), their patients, and also have damaged the reputation of the system producer. The method applied to all mixing tips will be explained, and the various characteristic values will be shown. The comparison of the obtained values of all the counterfeit mixing tips shows distinct patterns that clearly differ from the OEM one. In conclusion, this method is capable of documenting directly the originality pattern on the final parts and their production process. By this it is capable to reduce or even completely avoid the usage of engravers, security marks, etc.