Abrasive Testing

What is it?

Abrasive wear occurs when particles are forced against the surface of a material, moving along it and causing the scratch and release of material. The degree of wear from abrasion depends on the size of the particles, their shape and hardness, the magnitude of the applied force and frequency of contact with abrasive particles.

What is it used for?

The simulation test of wear by abrasion serves to determine the rate of wear to which a material is subjected when hard particles of a certain abrasive move parallel to its surface.
This test system is standardised by the ASTM G65 which, although designed for metallic materials, can be extended to other types of materials in methodological terms. With the study of these mechanisms of wear, it becomes possible to understand the behavior of different solutions in a given use, assess their susceptibility to abrasion phenomena and know the rate at which materials will predictably degrade.

Equipment and working conditions

Abrasive silica particles of controlled grain size and composition are used in the standardised abrasion test. The abrasive is introduced between the sample and a rotating wheel coated with rubber, which has a specified hardness. The sample to be analysed is pressed against the spinning wheel, while a predetermined stream of abrasive is inserted between the material under study and the spinning wheel. The wheel moves in the direction of flow of the abrasive. The duration of the test and the applied force vary according to the samples to be analysed. It is possible for other test types to vary the type of abrasive and the conditions under which the test is carried out. The samples are evaluated by mass loss (before and after the test) in order to obtain the rate of wear. This loss of mass is converted into volume loss per cubic millimeter and the results of the test are given by order of magnitude. The observation of surface morphology and the geometrical characteristics of the test site complement the information that can be extracted from the test.

Example of use

• Comparative study between floor materials
• Determination of wear rate of materials
• Analysis of the ability of a material to resist abrasive wear depending on the processing conditions or the introduction of additives (polymers, ceramic)
• Study of wear resistance of steels subjected to differentiated thermal treatments