ASSESSMENT OF SURFACE PROPERTIES IN TESTING MODERN AUTOMOTIVE MATERIALS

Modern automotive engineering increasingly relies on advanced materials that combine low weight, high strength, corrosion resistance, wear resistance, manufacturability, and long-term operational stability. Advanced high-strength steels, aluminum alloys, magnesium alloys, polymer composites, and carbon-fiber-reinforced materials are widely considered important material groups for modern vehicle structures, powertrain components, chassis elements, and exterior body parts. However, the performance of these materials in real vehicle operation depends not only on their bulk mechanical properties, but also on their surface properties. Surface roughness, microhardness, friction behavior, wear resistance, coating adhesion, corrosion resistance, and surface defect condition directly influence durability, fatigue life, paint quality, sealing performance, joining quality, and tribological efficiency.