The CSM Instruments Calowear test is used to determine coating thickness and abrasive wear resistance of coated and uncoated samples via a ball cratering technique. There, a steel ball rotates under defined conditions (load, rotation speed) against the sample surface. Adding an abrasive slurry (diamond paste, silicon carbide or aluminum oxide powder), a ball crater is created. The diameter of this crater is determined by an optical microscrope and from its increase with raising grinding duration the abrasive wear coefficient is calculated.

Technical data:

• Rotation speed: 10 bis 1000 U/min (continuously adjustable)
• Steel ball diameter (100Cr6): 20, 25,4, 30 mm
• Maximum sample size: 50 x 50 mm
• Maximum load: 1 N

The two CSM Instruments high-temperature tribometers of type ball-on-disk and pin-on-disk allow tribological investigations at temperatures between room temperature and 1000°C. Sliding contacts of materials in different atmospheres under dry and lubricated conditions can be studied. The coefficient of friction is measured during the test and plotted versus the sliding distance. Using a white light profilometer, the area of the wear track can be measured and wear rates can be calculated.

Technical data:

• Test geometry: ball-on-disc, pin-on-disc
• Disc size: diameter 30 - 55 mm, thickness 10 mm
• Ball: diameter 6 mm, Al2O3, various steels, aluminium
• Pin: diameter 6 mm
• Maximum load: 10 N 
• Maximum speed: 500 U/min 
• Temperature: 25 - 1000°C