Design of newly fabricated tribological machine for wear and frictional experiments under dry/wet condition

Nowadays, there is demand to evaluate tribological performance of new engineering materials using different techniques. Various laboratory tribo-machines have been designed and fabricated such as Pin-on-Disc (POD), ASTM G99, Block-on-Ring (BOR), ASTM G77 or G137-953, Dry Sand Rubber Wheel (DSRW), ASTM G655, Wet Sand Rubber Wheel (WSRW), ASTM G105, and sand/steel wheel test under wet/dry conditions (ASTM B611). A concept of integrating more than one tribo-technique at different contact mechanisms (line or area) working simultaneously under same test condition against same material is introduced in a current designed machine. Different wear modes (adhesive, two-body-abrasive, three-body-abrasive, under dry, lubricated, or slurry conditions) can be conducted on the same machine. Results of adhesive wear, friction and interface temperature of glass fibre reinforced polyester composite under wet/dry contact condition are reported at 50 N load for different sliding speeds (2.8–7.8 m/s) using the new machine. Weight loss and friction coefficient of the composite were substantially influenced by introducing water as lubricant. Additionally, the contact condition has the high influence key on the wear and frictional performance of the composite.