Micro-scratch　experiments　were　performed　on　copper　with　a　spherical　indenter,　and　the　effect　of　sample　tilt　on　the　scratch　response　of　copper　under　different　constant　normal　loads　was　studied.　The　results　showed　that　the　experimentally　measured　nominal　friction　coefficient　was　linearly　related　to　the　sample　tilt　angle,　with　their　slope　being　unaffected　by　the　normal　load.　The　geometrical　model　considering　the　positional　relationship　between　the　spherical　indenter　and　the　tilted　sample　was　established.　It　was　found　that　the　inclination　of　the　sample　had　no　effect　on　the　adhesive　component　of　the　nominal　friction　coefficient,　and　the　ploughing　component　of　friction　coefficient　linearly　changed　with　the　tilt　angle.　The　friction　coefficients　can　be　corrected　by　a　sphere-to-flat　contact　mechanical　model　for　tilted　samples,　so　as　to　obtain　the　true　friction　coefficients　corresponding　to　the　condition　without　tilting.　There　was　a　non-linear　relationship　between　the　friction　coefficient　and　the　normal　load　with　the　ploughing　component　increasing　linearly　with　the　normal　load,　while　the　adhesive　component　increased　non-linearly　and　then　gradually　stabilized.　The　residual　scratch　width　measured　by　the　scratch　topography　was　hardly　affected　by　the　tilt　of　the　sample,　and　had　a　linear　relationship　with　the　square　root　of　the　normal　load.　The　change　of　scratch　hardness　with　normal　load　was　analyzed,　and　the　scratch　hardness　calculated　from　the　residual　scratch　width　was　found　to　be　a　constant　value,　while　the　scratch　hardness　calculated　from　the　projected　contact　area　increased　with　normal　load,　and　then　gradually　stabilized.　Copyright　©2021　Tribology.　All　rights　reserved.