Overview
Projects
Specifications
Technical Drawings
nCATS has two pin-on-discs, one a low speed machine developed from an abrasive wheel machine that operates a low-speeds but high torques; over the year this has been used in various research and consultancy projects from wire-line wear to stone/rock on steel lubricated with water-base muds to simulate downhole conditions. Electrochemical measurements and polarisation have been used to explore corrosion and to affect friction. The latest project are looking at wheel squeal and brake dust generation.
The second pin-on-disc is a smaller faster version, which was used for early developments of electrostatic charge measurements in steel-steel and hybrid contacts, later projects explored carbon brakes with the latest work studying polymer brushes.
Projects involving the two pin-in-disc tribometers vary from classic material combination testing, including metallic-metallic contact to brake disc components, to the early condition monitoring work performed within nCATS group looking at the development of electrostatics as method for monitoring tribological contacts. One of the pin-on discs was modified for electrochemical control in surface potentials in frictional contacts. The influence of soot on wear and friction as also been studied and one of the more recent investigations examined polymer brushed on a ceramic surface.
Papers that have employed pin-on-disc tribometers:
- Surface potential effects on friction and abrasion of sliding contacts lubricated by aqueous solutions
- The feasibility of using electrostatic monitoring to identify diesel lubricant additives and soot contamination interactions by factorial analysis
- Acoustic emissions from lubricated hybrid contacts
- Wear performance of oil lubricated silicon nitride sliding against various bearing steels
- Electrostatic monitoring of oil lubricated sliding point contacts for early detection of scuffing
- The influence of contact conditions on surface reaction layers formed between steel surfaces lubricated by an aviation oil
- Electrostatic charge monitoring of unlubricated sliding wear of a bearing steel
- Investigation of electrostatic charging mechanisms in oil lubricated tribo-contacts
Pin-on-disc Specifications:
| Attribute | Pin-on-Disc 1 | Pin-on-Disc 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Load Range: | 5 to 260 N | 40 to 500 N |
| Velocity Range: | 100 to 3000 rpm | 10 to 240 rpm |
| Linear Velocity Range: | 0.2 to 14 m/s | 0.02 to 2 m/s |
| Temperature Range: | Ambient | Ambient |
Below are links to download technical drawings for the pin-on-disc samples.