1、Designation: D4172 94 (Reapproved 2016)Standard Test Method forWear Preventive Characteristics of Lubricating Fluid (Four-Ball Method)1This standard is issued under the fixed designation D4172; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year oforiginal adoption or, in the case of
2、 revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. Asuperscript epsilon () indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the U.S. Department of Defense.1. Scope1.1 This test
3、 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 lubricating grease using the samemachine is detailed in Test Method D2266.1.2 The values stated in SI units are to
4、 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. It is theresponsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-priate safety and health practices an
5、d determine the applica-bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.2. Referenced Documents2.1 ASTM Standards:2D2266 Test Method for Wear Preventive Characteristics ofLubricating Grease (Four-Ball Method)2.2 ANSI Standard:3B3.12 Specification for Metal Balls3. Terminology3.1 Definitions:3.1.1 lubr
6、icant, 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 due to relative motion betweenthat surface and a contacting substance or surface.4. Summary of Test Method4.1 T
7、hree 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 a force of 147 N or 392 N (15 kgf or 40 kgf)into the cavity formed by the three clamped balls for three-poin
8、t contact. The temperature of the test lubricant is regulatedat 75 C (167 F) and then the top ball is rotated at 1200 r/minfor 60 min. Lubricants are compared by using the average sizeof the scar diameters worn on the three lower clamped balls.NOTE 1Because of differences in the construction of the
9、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, theprecision noted in Section 10 may vary. No aqueous fluid was included inthe round-robin to
10、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 conditions. No attempt hasbeen made to correlate this test with balls in rolling contact.The us
11、er 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 Machine4See Figs. 1-3.NOTE 3It is important to distinguish between the Four-Ball E.P. andthe Four-Bal
12、l Wear Test Machines. The Four-Ball E.P. Test Machine isdesigned for testing under heavier loads and lacks the sensitivity necessaryfor wear tests.6.2 Microscope,4capable of measuring the diameters of thescars produced on the three stationary balls to an accuracy of1This test method is under the jur
13、isdiction of ASTM Committee D02 onPetroleum Products, Liquid Fuels, and Lubricantsand is the direct responsibility ofSubcommittee D02.L0.11 on Tribological Properties of Industrial Fluids andLubricates.Current edition approved Jan. 1, 2016. Published February 2016. Originallyapproved in 1982. Last p
14、revious edition approved in 2010 as D4172 94 (2010).DOI: 10.1520/D4172-94R16.2For referenced ASTM standards, 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 ont
15、he ASTM website.3Available from American National Standards Institute (ANSI), 25 W. 43rd St.,4th Floor, New York, NY 10036, http:/www.ansi.org.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 Gro
16、ve, IL 60554, have been found satisfactory for this purpose. This companycan also furnish a microscope with a special base to 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 Mach
17、ine Works are alsosatisfactory.Copyright ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States10.01 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 fro
18、m AISIstandard 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 C
19、leaning 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) isflammable,
20、 appropriate precautions should be taken (see Note1). In the round-robin tests to determine repeatability andreproducibility no specific directions were given for cleaningballs and machine parts. Operators reported using varioussolvents with and without a sonic cleaning bath. Cleaningtechniques repo
21、rted by some cooperators are included inResearch Report RR: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 C 2 C (167 F 4 F) 75 C 2 C (167 F 4 F)Speed 1200 r min 60 r min 1200 r min 60 r minDuration 60 min
22、 1 min 60 min 1 minLoad 147 N 2 N (15 kgf 0.2 kgf) 392 N 2 N (40 kgf 0.2 kgf)9. Preparation of Apparatus9.1 Set up the drive of the machine to obtain a spindle speedof 1200 r min 6 60 r min.9.2 Set temperature regulator to produce a test-oil tempera-ture of 75 C 6 2 C (167 F 6 4 F).9.3 When an autom
23、atic timer is used to terminate a test, itshould be checked 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 kgf)should be
24、detectable in imbalance. Determination of accuracyof loading at 147 N and 392 N (15 kgf and 40 kgf) is difficultand generally limited to careful measurement of lever-armratios and weights or piston diameter and pressure gaugecalibration.10. Procedure10.1 Thoroughly clean four test balls, clamping pa
25、rts forupper and lower balls and the oil cup using solvent or solventswith 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 oi
26、l is introduced and themachine assembled.10.2 Tighten one of the clean 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 approximately33.8 Nm to
27、67.7 Nm (25 ftlb to 50 ftlb).10.4 Pour the oil to be evaluated into the test-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 me
28、thod the effect of oil level on wear was not determined.10.5 Install the test-oil cup/three balls in the machine andavoid shock loading by slowly applying the test load (147 N or392 N) (15 kgf or 40 kgf).10.6 Turn on the heaters and set controls to obtain 75 C 62 C (167 F 6 4 F). Heater voltage or o
29、ffset on proportionalcontrollers should be capable of bringing stabilized tempera-ture within the prescribed limits.10.7 When the test temperature is reached, start the drivemotor which was previously set to drive the top ball at1200 r min 6 60 r/min. Machines with automatic start using aproportiona
30、l controller will start below the set temperature.The proportional band should be set narrow enough to limit the“under temperature” at start to near 2 C (4 F).10.8 After the drive motor has been on for 60 min 6 1 min,turn off the heaters and drive motor and remove the test-oil cupand three-ball asse
31、mbly.10.9 Measure the wear scars on the three lower balls to anaccuracy of 60.01 mm by one of the following methods:10.9.1 Option ADrain the test oil from three-ball assemblyand wipe the scar area with a tissue. Leave the three ballsclamped and set the assembly on a special base of a microscopethat
32、has been designed for the purpose.4Make two measure-ments on each of the wear scars. Take one measurement 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
33、 diameter in millimetres.5Steel balls meeting this description were used in developing the precision of thetest. 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 Sche
34、matic of a Four-Ball Wear Test MachineD4172 94 (2016)210.9.2 Option BRemove the three lower balls from theirclamped position. Wipe the 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 striat
35、ions and the other across the striations. Take care toensure that the line of sight is perpendicular to 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 al
36、l six readings by more than0.04 mm, investigate the alignment of the three lower ballswith the top ball.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
37、of wear scars obtained at each ofthe two testing conditions on each of the oils are shown in the Appendix.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 obtai
38、ned by the same operator with the same apparatusunder constant operating conditions on identical test 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 Rep
39、roducibilityThe difference between two singleand independent results obtained by different operators work-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 BiasTh
40、e procedure in this test method has no biasbecause the value of ball scar width can only be defined interms 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 M
41、odel #6, Multi-Specimen Friction and Wear Test MachineD4172 94 (2016)3APPENDIX(Nonmandatory Information)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 Di
42、ameter, mmNumber Description 147 N 392 NLXI2-1 Mineral Oil, 46cSt at 40 C0.56 0.72LXI2-2 LXI2-1 plus 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 su
43、lfur and phosphorus.D4172 94 (2016)4ASTM International takes no position respecting the validity 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 ris
44、kof infringement of such rights, are entirely their own responsibility.This standard is subject 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 thi
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47、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). Permission rights to photocopy the standard may also be secured from the Copyright Clearance Center, 222Rosewood Drive, Danvers, MA 01923, Tel: (978) 646-2600; http:/ 94 (2016)5
