This facility enables to investigate friction and wear properties of materials in pure sliding friction according to standardised pin-on-ring or ball-on-ring geometries or in combined rolling/sliding between ring/ring. The pin is riding on the circumference of the ring (i.e. coatings has to be applied on round surfaces.) In Pin-On-Ring geometry a induction heating system can be attached, which enables to test up to 700°C. The facility enables also investigation of abrasive wear, by use of abrasive wheels instead of standard rollers. Using an oil reservoir, also lubricated testing up to +200°C can be done. Digital data processing via PC is available for test parameters like temperature and humidity, and friction force and linear wear. Load up to 750 N can be applied, but with max. friction force of 200N.
Pin-On-Ring Tribometer Characteristics
| Main Parameters | |
| Applicable loads | 25<> 750 N, dead weight |
| Rotation speed | < 900 rpm |
| Sliding velocity | < 6 m/s |
| Friction force, accuracy | +/- 1 N up to 250 N |
| Linear wear rate measurement | +/- 0.01 mm up to 2 mm |
| Temperature | RT<> 750 °C (dry, heating by thermal chamber or induction) RT<> 200 °C (lubricated) |
| Environment | air (5 <>> 80 +/- 2 % RH), fluids, lubricants |
| Data acquisition | PC (mean and peak friction coefficient) |
| Ambient humidity control | 10 <> 80 +/- 2 % RH |
| Optional | On-Line-Measurement of electrical properties |
| Specimens | |
| Pin (vertically) | Diameter 4 <> 8 mm , Length 15 <> 30 mm |
| Ring | Diameter 50 <> 130 mm, Thickness 20 mm, Internal hole 12mm |
Surface Profiling and Topographie
In parallel to the tribology test, a high resolution profilometer has been set up in order to assess the wearing surface. The apparatus from the firma "Veeco" is able to reach a subnanometer resolution for a surface of some square millimeters. It provides accurate, non-contact surface metrology with applications in R&D; process development, failure and wear analysis and process control. It provides surface details for applications in thick films, optics, ceramics, advanced materials, precision surfaces, micro-electronics and many more. It utilizes white light interferometry for the high resolution 3D surface height measurements, from sub-nanometer roughness to millimeter-high steps.Tools and software for quantifying and visualizing surface data are also included.
It provides 3D-topography together with macros to calculate wear volumes on flat but also on spherical and cylindrical bodies. Scanning areas range from 0,3x0,2mm to 5,0x3,8mm. Highest resolutions are 0,5x0,5 µm in lateral and in vertical <0,1nm. The vertical scanning range may reach up to 1mm.
Wear volumes
can be measured via this optical profiler: An example of a ball after a friction test can be seen on the image below. The original spherical surface of the ball was subtracted. The remaining peak refers to the volume of material which is sticking on the ball. This net volume on the ball can be calculated.
andreas.merstallinger@ait.ac.at