With the term tribology it is intended the science which studies the interactions between two surfaces in relative motion. Such matter encompasses friction, wear, lubrication and design of the coupling itself.
Tribological phenomena are most commonly associated to machine elements like cams, brakes, bearings, gears but surface interactions are part of our everyday life such as for example in switches, connectors, scissors and so on. Understanding the tribological behaviour of two bodyes within a system allows to know the damage mechanisms and their outcome on the whole system allowing also to define its service life.
Tribological tests performed in CSM laboratory can help to to:
- Design components and systems subject to specific loads and working conditions
- Verify operative working conditions of equipment
- Verify performances of coatings and surface treatments
- Compare different lubricants and lubrification conditions
- Measure and compare the effect of multiple phenomena occurring at the same time (e.g. tribocorrosion, thermal fatigue, etc)
- Perform failure analysis
To characterise the tribological properties CSM can adopt standard as well as customised tests adapting existing equipment or developing taylored test rigs to reproduce specific configurations according to operative conditions required.
Standard Testing & Equipment
- Slurry Test (ASTM G75) – determination of the relative abrasivity of any slurry (Miller Number) or the response of different materials to the abrasivity of different slurries (SAR Number).
- Pin/ball on disk test (ASTM G99) – study of adhesive wear with an adjustable axial load onto a specimen which is rotated (variable speed)
- Tribocorrosion test (ASTM G119) - evaluation of combined effect of wear and corrosion phenomena occurring together
- Grease Characterization (ASTM D5707) – determination of wear properties and coefficient of friction of lubricating greases at selected temperatures
- Friction and Wear Properties of Extreme Pressure (EP) Lubricating Oils (ASTM D6425) – determination of antiwear properties and coefficient of friction of EP lubricating oils at selected temperatures and loads
- Block-on-Ring Test (ASTM G77) - Ranking Resistance of Materials to Sliding Wear
- Linearly Reciprocating Ball-on-Flat Sliding Wear (ASTM G133) - study wear phenomena from 600 to 1200 °C.
- Hot Hardness Test – evaluation of hardness of the materials in the range RT - 950 ° C, in Air or Ar flow
Why RINA?
RINA laboratories, equipment, and highly qualified personnel are able to provide detailed analysis and customized consultancy, based on over twenty years’ experience in the powder market, since its origins, through projects, patents, and gaining experience on metallic and non-metallic powders, used for additive manufacturing, sintering, and coating technologies. RINA CSM has been part of the additive market, and offers specific support on the customers’ requirements, supporting the selection of supplier, material, and post-process treatments for the specific application sector.
