What is the principle of a wear tester?

What is a wear tester?

A wear tester is a type of testing machine primarily used to test metal materials.

A test piece is pressed against a mating material for a specified period of time, causing them to move relative to each other, and the wear characteristics during this process are measured. In addition to metals, wear tests can also evaluate the wear resistance of materials such as plastics and fabrics used in clothing, but here we will introduce wear testers widely used for metal materials.

In metal material tests, such as tensile and bending tests, the physical and mechanical properties are determined by the magnitude of the applied load, while in wear tests, the physical and mechanical properties of other materials are determined by the application of friction. The main difference lies in the different characteristics that emerge depending on the shape, the method of applying the load, and the testing environment. Therefore, there are various types of wear testers, including those that move the mating material back and forth in a straight line and those that rotate.

Some equipment also allows you to set up environments that resemble actual usage conditions, such as dry and wet conditions and temperature. Friction testing is a test conducted in the field of tribology. Tribology refers to the science and technology that studies all phenomena that occur between two surfaces in relative motion, such as wear, friction, and seizure.

Basic Principle

The basic principle of an abrasion tester is to simulate friction and wear behavior under various operating conditions, thereby measuring the wear of a material under certain pressures, speeds, temperatures, and media. Typically, the tester uses appropriate loads and motions to create friction between the specimen and the abrasive medium, thereby producing wear. Depending on the testing requirements, the tester can utilize various friction modes, such as linear, rotational, or ball milling.

Multiple Applications

Printing and Packaging Industry

In the printing industry, abrasion testers are specifically used to evaluate:

· Abrasion resistance of the ink layer of printed materials

· Abrasion resistance of the photosensitive layer of PS plates

· Abrasion resistance of packaging surface coatings

It can effectively analyze and address industry pain points such as poor rub resistance, ink detachment, and low print run length. For packaging materials such as cardboard and labels, abrasion testing ensures that the print integrity and appearance quality are maintained during transportation and use.

Construction and Building Materials Industry

The abrasion resistance of building materials is directly related to the service life and maintenance costs of buildings. Applications in this field include:

· Concrete products: Verifying the wear resistance of paving tiles, floor tiles, artificial marble, and terrazzo (in accordance with GB/T16925-1997).

· Ceramics and bricks: Determining the wear depth of brittle materials such as unglazed tiles and mosaics (in accordance with GB/T3810.6).

· Natural stone: Testing the wear resistance of natural stone as a flooring material (in accordance with GB/T 19766-2005).

Ball bearing wear testing machines are standard equipment for municipal, highway, and bridge construction companies, concrete product factories, and research laboratories.

Transportation and Municipal Engineering

For transportation facilities subject to high loads and continuous wear, wear testing provides critical data support:

· Highway concrete paving tiles (in accordance with GB 28635-2012).

· Inorganic flooring materials (tested according to GB/T12988-2009). Evaluating the wear resistance of traffic paint and road markings

The steel wheel abrasion tester is specifically designed to meet these demanding testing scenarios. Its technical specifications include an abrasion wheel diameter of 200 ± 0.2 mm, a thickness of 70 ± 0.1 mm, and a hardness of HB500 or higher, ensuring that test results are highly consistent with actual use.

Textile and Footwear Manufacturing

In the textile and footwear industries, wear resistance directly impacts product appearance and service life:

· Upper Materials: Testing the wear resistance of soft leather, artificial leather, synthetic leather, microfiber leather, and textiles

Textiles: Evaluating the abrasion resistance and pilling of fabrics, non-woven fabrics, carpets, and blankets

Specialty Materials: Verifying the wear life of products such as luggage, automotive interiors, and resin furniture.

Taber abrasion testers are widely used in this field. They can be configured with different grinding wheel sizes (CS10. CS17. H18. H22) and loads (500g or 1000g) based on material properties, accurately simulating actual wear conditions.

Martindale abrasion testers specialize in fabric pilling testing and comply with multiple international and domestic standards, including ISO, ASTM, and GB/T.

Automotive and Precision Manufacturing

High-end manufacturing places stringent demands on material wear resistance, and wear testing plays a key role in these areas:

· Automotive parts (interior and exterior trim, coatings)

· Electronic components and plastic finishes for IT products

· Electroplated parts and metal coatings

· Precision engineering plastic parts

Linear abrasion testers excel in this field, particularly in testing the wear resistance of products with contoured and polished surfaces, such as the wear resistance of plastic finishes for IT products like computer mice.6 They can simulate the wear of material surfaces under actual use conditions and can test samples of any size or shape.

New Materials R&D and Aerospace

In the field of new materials R&D, wear testing is the cornerstone of innovative breakthroughs:

· Evaluating the wear characteristics of new alloys and composites

· Optimizing the wear resistance of high-performance protective coatings

· Researching the friction mechanisms of aerospace materials

Using wear testing machines, researchers can accurately measure the friction coefficient and wear rate of materials, providing data support for material design and process improvements.

Gakushin Abrasion Tester

FAQ

Q: What is wear testing?

Wear testing is a commonly used test method used to evaluate the wear resistance of materials, coatings, or surfaces. During this test, a specific device or instrument is typically used to simulate wear under actual operating conditions in order to determine the lifespan, performance, and quality of the material or surface.

Wear testing can be applied in various fields, such as materials engineering, mechanical engineering, automotive engineering, construction engineering, and electronics. Common wear testing methods include transverse friction testing, reciprocating friction testing, and rotary friction testing.

Wear testing can be used to evaluate the wear resistance of different materials or coatings, thereby optimizing product design and production, and improving product quality and lifespan.

Q: What should I do if an abnormality occurs during sample wear?

This may be related to the accuracy and stability of the equipment itself, or the operator's skills and experience. Equipment calibration and commissioning are necessary, as well as operator training and knowledge development.

Q: How can I troubleshoot a wear tester malfunction or damage?

This may be related to the equipment's quality and maintenance. We recommend selecting a high-quality wear tester and performing regular maintenance and servicing.

Q: Does the sample not meet requirements or is the test method incorrect?

When selecting samples and test methods, you must adhere to relevant standards and specifications, and pay attention to the sample's surface treatment and handling.

Q: Is the wear tester not interoperable with other equipment or systems?

For example, data transmission and control systems. The equipment selection and coordination should be tailored to your specific needs and equipment characteristics.