1. Fast Screening of Wear Regimes in a Four Ball Setup
Lais Lopes, Dirk Drees, Pedro Baião, Falex Tribology, Rotselaar, Vlaams Brabant, Belgium
A fast-screening method is developed in four ball setup, to evaluate wear regimes more efficiently. Current ASTM methods require running multiple short tests over a range of loads. In this presentation, we show an alternative approach by an automated method. How to evaluate the results of this method, how parameters can be fine-tuned to suit ranges of products, and what new insights can be gained, are the results of this research. The level of correlation with other test methods is also examined. The method is initially focused on detecting the seizure regime, because once a lubricant enters this regime, all lubricating functionality is los in a normal application. Some indications to extend the method to the catastrophic failure range, called weld load, are made, but the real discussion is whether this weld load has any practical value. This approach intends to provide the additives and lubricants industry a new method to continually check and improve quality and performance.
WHY
In an industrial forming operation, the friction between tool and workpiece, or workpiece and die, determines the quality and efficiency of forming. Too high friction can cause wrinkles or tears, resulting in scrap. Forming lubricants appear to be sensitive to temperature, so the optimal forming conditions may vary with increasing temperature, as the machines warm up.
1. The challenge to determine anti-wear and extreme pressure properties of dry lubricants in industrial lubrication applications
Lais Lopes, Dirk Drees, Pedro Baião, Falex Tribology, Rotselaar, Vlaams Brabant, Belgium
Abstract: Dry lubricants are in industrial forming processes, notably wire drawing. Consisting of flakes, pellets or powders, they stick to workpiece and pass through a die or forming tool, where localized high pressure melts them. Characterizing their EP and Anti-wear properties in a lab test is challenging: a constant supply of particles into a standard tribological geometry needs to be achieved. four ball wear/ep tests fall short.