Proof of Concept: In-Situ Wear Differentiation of Simultaneously Wearing Counterparts

Abstract

Accurate assessment of the tribological system’s wear behavior is crucial for optimization. Common tribological test stands rely on a single measurement information—usually the indentation depth of the complete tribological system. If both counterparts experience wear—like polymer–polymer combinations—a subsequent assessment of the tested specimens is needed to estimate the contributions of each partner for determining the wear volume, and thus the wear rate. In this work, we propose a novel approach how an in-situ wear measurement of both simultaneously wearing counterparts can be implemented and generally demonstrate the feasibility on a ball-on-prism tribometer. This is achieved by measuring the system’s indentation depth while simultaneously scanning the ball’s surface with a laser profile scanner, providing information for calculation of the ball’s wear volume. While offering new possibilities for wear evaluation, challenges remain including radial runout of the measured specimen, testing in media and accumulation of large amounts of debris. Overall, this work presents an advancement in the evaluation of wear behavior, enabling better optimization of tribological systems with simultaneous wear. Refinements and adaptations to different setups can further enhance its utility.