1、Designation: D 4172 94 (Reapproved 2004)e1An American National StandardStandard Test Method forWear Preventive Characteristics of Lubricating Fluid (Four-Ball Method)1This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 4172; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year ofori
2、ginal adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. Asuperscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the Department of
3、Defense.e1NOTEHand tightening information in 10.3 was modified editorially in May 2006.1. Scope1.1 This test method covers a procedure for making apreliminary evaluation of the anti-wear properties of fluidlubricants in sliding contact by means of the Four-Ball WearTest Machine. Evaluation of lubric
4、ating grease using the samemachine is detailed in Test Method D 2266.1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as thestandard. The values given in parentheses are for informationonly.1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of thesafety concerns, if any, associated with its use.
5、It is theresponsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.2. Referenced Documents2.1 ASTM Standards:2D 2266 Test Method for Wear Preventive Characteristics ofLubricating Grease (F
6、our-Ball Method)2.2 ANSI Standard:3B3.12 Specification for Metal Balls3. Terminology3.1 Definitions:3.1.1 lubricant, nany material interposed between twosurfaces that reduces the friction or wear between them.3.1.2 wear, ndamage to a solid surface, generally involv-ing progressive loss of material d
7、ue to relative motion betweenthat surface and a contacting substance or surface.4. Summary of Test Method4.1 Three 12.7-mm 12-in. diameter steel balls are clampedtogether and covered with the lubricant to be evaluated. Afourth 12.7-mm diameter steel ball, referred to as the top ball,is pressed with
8、a force of 147 or 392 N 15 or 40 kgf into thecavity formed by the three clamped balls for three-pointcontact. The temperature of the test lubricant is regulated at75C 167F and then the top ball is rotated at 1200 rpm for60 min. Lubricants are compared by using the average size ofthe scar diameters w
9、orn on the three lower clamped balls.NOTE 1Because of differences in the construction of the variousmachines on which the four-ball test can be made, the manufacturersinstructions should be consulted for proper machine set up and operation.NOTE 2Although the test can be run under other parameters, t
10、heprecision noted in Section 10 may vary. No aqueous fluid was included inthe round-robin to establish the precision limits.5. Significance and Use5.1 This test method can be used to determine the relativewear preventive properties of lubricating fluids in slidingcontact under the prescribed test co
11、nditions. No attempt hasbeen made to correlate this test with balls in rolling contact.The user of this test method should determine to his ownsatisfaction whether results of this test procedure correlate withfield performance or other bench test machines.6. Apparatus6.1 Four-Ball Wear Test Machine4
12、See Figs. 1-3.NOTE 3It is important to distinguish between the Four-Ball E.P. andthe Four-Ball Wear Test Machines. The Four-Ball E.P. Test Machine isdesigned for testing under heavier loads and lacks the sensitivity necessaryfor wear tests.1This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committe
13、e D02 onPetroleum Products and Lubricants and is the direct responsibility of SubcommitteeD02.L0 on Industrial Lubricants.Current edition approved Nov. 1, 2004. Published November 2004. Originallyapproved in 1982. Last previous edition approved in 1999 as D 4172 94 (1999).2For referenced ASTM standa
14、rds, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, orcontact ASTM Customer Service at serviceastm.org. For Annual Book of ASTMStandards volume information, refer to the standards Document Summary page onthe ASTM website.3Available from American National Standards Institute (ANSI), 25 W. 43rd St.,4th Floor,
15、New York, NY 10036.4The Four-Ball Wear Test Machine and the Falex Model #6, Multi-SpecimenFriction and Wear Test Machine, both made by Falex Corp., 1020 Airpark Drive,Sugar Grove, IL 60554, have been found satisfactory for this purpose. This companycan also furnish a microscope with a special base t
16、o measure the wear scars withoutremoving the balls from the test-oil cup. Discontinued models of the Four-Ball WearTest Machine made by Precision Scientific Co. and Roxana Machine Works are alsosatisfactory.1Copyright ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 1942
17、8-2959, United States.6.2 Microscope,4capable of measuring the diameters of thescars produced on the three stationary balls to an accuracy of0.01 mm. It is more efficient to measure the scars withoutremoving the three balls from the holder.7. Materials7.1 Test Balls,5chrome alloy steel, made from AI
18、SIstandard steel No. E-52100, with diameter of 12.7 mm 0.5 in.Grade 25 EP (Extra Polish). Such balls are described in ANSIB3.12. The extra-polish finish is not described in that specifi-cation. The Rockwell C hardness shall be 64 to 66, a closerlimit than is found in the ANSI requirement.7.2 Cleanin
19、g Fluids for preparing balls and apparatus forthe test should be those approved as nontoxic, capable ofremoving antirust coatings from the balls, eliminating test-oilcarryover from one test to the next, and not contribute to wearor antiwear of the test lubricant. When the fluid(s) is flam-mable, app
20、ropriate precautions should be taken (see Note 1). Inthe round-robin tests to determine repeatability and reproduc-ibility no specific directions were given for cleaning balls andmachine parts. Operators reported using various solvents withand without a sonic cleaning bath. Cleaning techniques re-po
21、rted by some cooperators are included in Research ReportRR: D02-1152, see Note 4.8. Test Conditions8.1 The test conditions used to develop the precision data asstated in Section 10 were:ABTemperature 75 6 2C 167 6 4C 75 6 2C 167 6 4CSpeed 1200 6 60 rpm 1200 6 60 rpmDuration 60 6 1min 606 1minLoad 14
22、7 6 2N156 0.2 kgf 392 6 2N406 0.2 kgf9. Preparation of Apparatus9.1 Set up the drive of the machine to obtain a spindle speedof 1200 6 60 rpm.9.2 Set temperature regulator to produce a test-oil tempera-ture of 75 6 2C 167 6 4F.9.3 When an automatic timer is used to terminate a test, itshould be chec
23、ked for the required 61 min accuracy at 60 minelapsed time.9.4 The loading mechanism must be balanced to a zeroreading with all parts and test oil in place. To demonstrateproper precision an addition or subtraction of 19.6 N 0.2 kgfshould be detectable in imbalance. Determination of accuracyof loadi
24、ng at 147 and 392 N 15 and 40 kgf is difficult andgenerally limited to careful measurement of lever-arm ratiosand weights or piston diameter and pressure gage calibration.10. Procedure10.1 Thoroughly clean four test balls, clamping parts forupper and lower balls and the oil cup using solvent or solv
25、entswith precautions indicated in 6.2. The parts can be final wipedusing a fresh (unused) lint free industrial wipe. After cleaning,all parts are only to be handled using a fresh wipe. No trace ofsolvent should remain when the test oil is introduced and themachine assembled.10.2 Tighten one of the c
26、lean balls into the spindle of thetest machine.10.3 Assemble three of the clean test balls in the test-oil cupand hand tighten using the wrench supplied by the equipmentmanufacturer, which has been found to be approximately 33.8to 67.7 Nm 25 to 50 ftlb.10.4 Pour the oil to be evaluated into the test
27、-oil cup to alevel at least 3 mm 18 in. above the top of the balls. Observethat this oil level still exists after the test-oil fills all of the voidsin the test-oil cup assembly. In the round-robin to establish thistest method the effect of oil level on wear was not determined.10.5 Install the test-
28、oil cup/three balls in the machine andavoid shock loading by slowly applying the test load (147 or392 N) 15 or 40 kgf.10.6 Turn on the heaters and set controls to obtain 75 6 2C167 6 4F. Heater voltage or offset on proportional control-lers should be capable of bringing stabilized temperaturewithin
29、the prescribed limits.10.7 When the test temperature is reached, start the drivemotor which was previously set to drive the top ball at 1200 660 rpm. Machines with automatic start using a proportionalcontroller will start below the set temperature. The propor-tional band should be set narrow enough
30、to limit the “undertemperature” at start to near 2C 4F.10.8 After the drive motor has been on for 60 6 1 min, turnoff the heaters and drive motor and remove the test-oil cup andthree-ball assembly.10.9 Measure the wear scars on the three lower balls to anaccuracy of 60.01 mm by one of the following
31、methods:10.9.1 Option ADrain the test oil from three-ball assem-bly and wipe the scar area with a tissue. Leave the three ballsclamped and set the assembly on a special base of a microscopethat has been designed for the purpose.4Make two measure-ments on each of the wear scars. Take one measurement
32、of thescar along a radial line from the center of the holder. Take thesecond measurement along a line 90 from the first measure-ment. Report the arithmetic average of the six measurements asscar diameter in millimetres.10.9.2 Option BRemove the three lower balls from theirclamped position. Wipe the
33、scar area. Make two measurementsof each of the three scars. Make the two measurements at 90to each other. If a scar is elliptical take one measurement withthe striations and the other across the striations. Take care to5Steel balls meeting this description were used in developing the precision of th
34、etest. They are available from the manufacturer of the test machine and some ballmanufacturers. Some operators prefer to check a new box of balls by running an oilwith a known result.FIG. 1 Schematic of a Four-Ball Wear Test MachineD 4172 94 (2004)e12ensure that the line of sight is perpendicular to
35、 the surfacebeing measured. As in Option A, average the six readings andreport as scar diameter in millimetres.10.9.3 If the average of the two measurements on one ballvaries from the average of all six readings by more than 0.04mm, investigate the alignment of the three lower balls with thetop ball
36、.11. Precision and Bias6NOTE 4The precision data6were derived from cooperative testing by13 laboratories on 5 oils under the conditions listed in Section 7. Adescription of the oils and the average of wear scars obtained at each ofthe two testing conditions on each of the oils are shown in the Appen
37、dix.11.1 The precision of this test method as determined by thestatistical examination of interlaboratory test results is asfollows.11.1.1 RepeatabilityThe difference between successiveresults obtained by the same operator with the same apparatusunder constant operating conditions on identical test
38、materialwould, in the long run, in the normal and correct operation ofthe test method, exceed the following value only in one case intwenty:Repeatability 5 0.12 mm scar diameter difference11.1.2 ReproducibilityThe difference between two singleand independent results obtained by different operators w
39、ork-ing in different laboratories on identical test material would, inthe long run, exceed the following value only in one case intwenty:Reproducibility 5 0.28 mm scar diameter difference11.2 BiasThe procedure in this test method has no biasbecause the value of ball scar width can only be defined in
40、terms of a test method.12. Keywords12.1 lubricant; wear6Supporting data have been filed at ASTM International Headquarters and maybe obtained by requesting Research Report RR: D02-1152.FIG. 2 Falex Model #6, Multi-Specimen Friction and Wear Test MachineD 4172 94 (2004)e13APPENDIX(Nonmandatory Inform
41、ation)X1. SUMMARY OF COOPERATIVE TESTINGX1.1 Table X1.1 is a summary of cooperative testing.FIG. 3 Falex Variable-Speed Four-Ball Wear Test MachineTABLE X1.1 Summary of Cooperative TestingSample Scar Diameter, mmNumber Description 147 N 392 NLXI2-1 Mineral Oil, 46cSt at 40C0.56 0.72LXI2-2 LXI2-1 plu
42、s 1 %wt ZDTA0.27 0.42LXI2-3 LXI2-1 plus 2 %wt S/PB0.28 0.35LXI2-4 Synthetichydrocarbon0.53 0.76LXI2-5 Tricresylphosphate0.54 0.59AZDT = zinc O, O-dialkylphosphorodithioate.BS/P = additive containing sulfur and phosphorus.D 4172 94 (2004)e14ASTM International takes no position respecting the validity
43、 of any patent rights asserted in connection with any item mentionedin this standard. Users of this standard are expressly advised that determination of the validity of any such patent rights, and the riskof infringement of such rights, are entirely their own responsibility.This standard is subject
44、to revision at any time by the responsible technical committee and must be reviewed every five years andif not revised, either reapproved or withdrawn. Your comments are invited either for revision of this standard or for additional standardsand should be addressed to ASTM International Headquarters
45、. Your comments will receive careful consideration at a meeting of theresponsible technical committee, which you may attend. If you feel that your comments have not received a fair hearing you shouldmake your views known to the ASTM Committee on Standards, at the address shown below.This standard is
46、 copyrighted by ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959,United States. Individual reprints (single or multiple copies) of this standard may be obtained by contacting ASTM at the aboveaddress or at 610-832-9585 (phone), 610-832-9555 (fax), or serviceastm.org (e-mail); or through the ASTM website(www.astm.org).D 4172 94 (2004)e15
