Keywords

• adhesive wear
• diesel fuel lubricity
• fuel lubricity
• lubricity

This model is a computer controlled “FULLY AUTOMATED” reciprocating friction and wear test system which provides a fast, repeatable assessment of the performance of fuels and lubricants. It is particularly suitable for wear testing of relatively poor lubricants & diesel fuels like for boundary friction measurements   of engine oils, greases & other compounds. Developed by a group of Tribologists having a combined experience of over 60 years in the field of Tribology

The test method measures the lubricity, or ability of a fluid to affect friction between, and wear to surfaces in relative motion under load. The system is entirely controlled by PC via a custom electronic interface. The entire process from loading of the specimen, attaining the temperature, achieving  the required pre-defined frequency to maintaining the required defined / set load during the test duration (please note that the load tends to increase due to the heating of the specimen & the test sample), controlling the stroke length to the:

The mechanical unit uses an electromagnetic drive to oscillate the upper test ball against a fixed lower plate/disc. The digital control system and the absence of bearings and sliding components in the   mechanical unit ensures absolute repeatability of stroke length and frequency. Accurate & repeatable loading is ensured by using an automated loading arrangement (not a dead weight loading arrangement used normally). Platinum RTD temperature probes are used for the specimen and safety cut-out temperature measurements. Piezo electric transducers are used for very precise measurements of load, friction & amplitude/stroke length. Humidity probe to record the RH trace in the bath in the software.

DATA LOGGING

Collected data is displayed in a graph form during the test. It is continuously updated, saved in text format and can easily be recalled (on-line during the test/off-line from recorded data) and printed.

WEAR SCAR MEASUREMENT

Wear scar measurements/dimensions are done automatically (in x, y & z axis) thru the microscope and saved in the respective test data/log file automatically for online / offline analysis.

SOFTWARE

State of the art menu-driven software is used for running the tests & recording the data. The software also allows multiple temperature steps & ramps during a single test - widely used for lubricant boundary friction measurements. The software allows the user to pre-define the graphs and recall the earlier recorded test data online (real-time : during the test) for off-line analysis:

SAFETY:

The software controls ensure the user-set limits to maintain the safety of the equipment and will shut down in case of any failure due to any reason.

THE SYSTEM

The complete system comprises of:

• Mechanical Test Unit
  With upper and lower specimen holders, with standard test specimen/s
  (6mm & 10 mm ball and 10 mm / 21 mm disc/plate)

• Data Acquisition & Control System
  Controls Stroke length, reciprocation frequency, temperature and load.
  Logs all test measurements to spreadsheet compatible file for printout, storage for on-line / off-line detailed analysis.
  This also includes IBM-PC (Laptop or Industrial PC) with all the interface hardware between PC & the test unit along with the colored ink jet printer

• Microscope  (for manual scar measurement)

• Humidity Cabinet – Window mounted that controls the humidity of the entire lab. room

• Set of 50 test specimens

• Extra set of Heater Cartridges

• User Manual

• Tool Set (Allen keys)

SPECIFICATIONS:

CONTROL SYSTEM