A tribometer measures friction and wear between two surfaces, with different designs for different conditions. Tribology studies wear and lubricants, and tribologists use tribometers to determine product longevity. Tribometers are used in various industries, including footwear, tools, and aerospace, and can test materials on small or extreme scales.
A tribometer is a device used to measure friction and wear between two surfaces. There are several designs for tribometers, but the most basic involves a flat or spherical surface that is repeatedly moved across the surface of another material. An exact weight is applied to the moving part throughout the duration of the test. The final measurement shows the wear and tear of the material and is often used to determine its strength and longevity. Tribometers are an integral part of manufacturing and engineering.
Tribology is the study of the wear and tear that objects undergo when two surfaces touch and move. It also includes the study of how lubricants affect wear and friction on surfaces. A tribologist is often employed by manufacturers of consumer products to determine how long they will last and to establish realistic tolerances through the use of a tribometer.
Specific types of tribometers are used to simulate different conditions. The most common machine is a flat disk that can be made of several materials, or a sphere. Once started, the probe will spin on the surface of the material to be tested or move back and forth following a track-like path. Test results are measured with various instruments and by physically weighing the amount of material that has been lost in the process.
Another type is a variable incidence tribometer. This device is used to determine the slip resistance of a surface. It consists of a piston that is pushed down onto the surface to be tested at increasing levels of pressure until the slip resistance number is determined as the piston slides. This is often used to determine workplace safety and to test new shoe sole designs.
A nano or micro tribometer is a device very similar to a standard unit, but has been modified to allow wear tests to be performed on incredibly small scales. This is often used to test paper, surgical instruments and electronic components. Precision equipment is usually required to obtain the results of these tests due to the minimally small areas involved.
Some tribometers are designed to simulate very extreme conditions. High-load units are used to test materials used in large-scale construction by exposing them to very high weights. High-temperature units simulate abnormally intense temperatures and are often used to test materials in the aerospace industry.
In industry and manufacturing, a tribometer can be used for a variety of products. They are commonly associated with the testing of footwear, tools and machine parts. Other lesser-known applications, however, include testing cosmetics, medical implants, flooring and lubricants.
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