Abrasion testing is not a practical method of determining a material’s resistance to abrasion. This method only helps determine its ranking in the hierarchy of materials, and is always conducted under relatively high-abrasive conditions. The loss in data is compared to the volume of loss experienced by a test sample already examined by the manufacturer under the same environmental conditions. This helps manufacturers determine the true worth of a material, and identifies factors that reduce its quality.
ASTM D4060
As a general guideline for evaluating abrasion resistance of a coating material, ASTM D4060 has proven to be useful. This standard describes a test procedure to measure a coating’s abrasion resistance in three ways: the mass loss during a specified number of cycles, the weight loss per cycle, and the average number of cycles necessary to remove a unit thickness of coating.
ASTM D4060 is the standard for measuring abrasion resistance of organic coating materials. The standard also evaluates the capacity of transparent plastic materials to maintain optical properties after repeated abrasion. In the test, an organic coating material is mounted flat on a turntable style platform and weighted abrasive wheels are lowered and rolled over the test specimen’s surface. Each cycle is then checked visually for wear through the coating’s surface.
In ASTM D4060 testing, a flat specimen is mounted onto a turntable. The turntable rotates at a predetermined speed, allowing the abrasive wheels to contact the sample surface. A suction arm then pulls the abraded material away from the surface of the sample. The process repeats until the sample has undergone the specified number of cycles. Micom offers abrasion testing to ASTM D4060 as part of its services.
Falling sand test
The Falling Sand Abrasion Tester, model 820, is a popular apparatus for measuring the abrasion resistance of organic and inorganic coating materials. In this test, abrasive particles are released through a tube into a receptacle, where the test specimen is positioned at a 45-degree angle. Once the sand has impacted the test specimen, it is visible, and the results are expressed in terms of how much Abrasive Sand is needed to scratch the coating.
The Falling Sand Abrasion Tester is a professional-grade abrasion testing machine. It features an 8″ diameter sand reservoir, a 60-degree funnel, a 45-degree angled specimen holder, a sturdy base and support system, and an optional enclosure. It is available with a wide range of accessories to suit your needs.
Dry sand/rubber wheel test
The abrasion resistance of coating materials can be evaluated using a dry sand/rubber wheel test. The test produces low stress abrasion numbers for the material under test. The test simulates two-body conditions, but requires the application of a controlled flow of grit. The abrasive is brought between the test sample and a rotating wheel through a lever arm. As the wheel rotates, the contact face moves along the direction of the sand flow.
ASTM G65 simulates sliding abrasion under moderate pressure by applying a specified amount of dry sand between the test coupon and a hard rubber wheel. A certain number of rotations is required to determine the amount of volume loss. The test conditions are a thirty-pound load, a nine-inch wheel, and graduated dry sand. In ASTM G77, a test demonstrates the abrasion resistance of coating materials under High Stress Abrasion.
Pin test
The Pin test of abrasion resistance of a coating material measures the durability of a coating by measuring the amount of wear it can sustain from rubbing and scraping. As per ASTM G132 standards, this test uses two pin specimens, one for the subject material and one for the reference material. The test machine moves a pin across the abrasive surface of both specimens. The amount of wear and the resulting weight loss are recorded and compared to the weight of a reference specimen. The percentage of loss of weight is then used to determine the strength of the coating material.
The Pin test of abrasion resistance of a coating material is a common tribological testing method. This abrasion test consists of a rotating disc that engages an indenter. A strain gage sensor measures the friction force of the pin and measures the amount of material lost during the test. The pin-on-disc test is one of the most effective ways to determine the durability of a coating. It can also tell you about the surface properties of the coating. For example, a low coefficient of friction surface will allow the pin to roll on the disc easier. High lubricity will decrease material loss and improve wear resistance
