Thealteredsurfacelayerformedonacrystallinesolidduringawearprocessorbymechanical
polishingthat,accordingtoatheorybySirGeorgeBeilby,consistsofamaterialinanamorphous
state.Itisnowgenerallyacceptedthatanamorphouslayerisnotformedatasurfaceexcept
possiblyinsomespecialcases;however,thetermisstillusedtodenoteasurfacealteredbywear,
withoutanyimplicationastoitsactualstructure.