Abrasive wear can erode a surface until it is significantly weakened and no longer operates effectively. This can be countered with abrasion resistance, a property you can optimise in various ways to try to improve performance.
What is abrasive wear?
One of four types of wear resistance, abrasive wear involves physical actions, such as rubbing or scraping, that thin or weaken a surface. It shortens the lifespan of a material and may prevent it from working properly. Abrasion resistance is an attempt to stop damage from abrasive wear.
Abrasion-resistant materials
Some materials are naturally abrasion-resistant and therefore popular in settings in which surfaces are frequently exposed to friction. Examples include steel, ceramics, some rubber compounds, polyurethane, and various types of plastic.
Measuring abrasion resistance
As abrasion resistance is so important in ensuring a durable surface, it must be measured before any part is used in industry. Methods include the Taber test, which involves abrasive wheels rotating against the surface; the Martindale abrasion test, which is primarily used on textiles; and the rubber wheel and dry sand of the ASTM G65 Standard Test, which is popular in mining.
Improving abrasion resistance
There are different ways to enhance abrasion resistance in different products. Often, this involves a coating or barrier that prevents the material from making contact with abrasive surfaces; for example, abrasion resistant lining is available from companies such as https://www.kingfisher-industrial.com/wear-protection/.
Once you understand abrasion resistance, you will have the knowledge you need to try to avoid or at least minimise the impact of abrasive wear on any materials you use.
