Wear Resistance Test of Tungsten Cemented Carbide Balls

The wear resistance test of tungsten cemented carbide balls is an important means to evaluate their wear resistance under specific working conditions. It is often used in oil drilling, mining machinery, cutting tools and other fields.

1. Common wear resistance test methods

Wear resistance test usually measures wear amount, wear rate or surface morphology change by simulating the friction and wear process in actual use. The following are several main methods:

(1) Linear reciprocating friction test

Principle: By applying a certain load to the surface of the tungsten cemented carbide balls, it makes a linear reciprocating motion with the dual material (such as steel plate or ceramic) to simulate the friction and wear in actual use.

Test equipment: friction and wear tester (such as reciprocating friction tester).

Evaluation indicators: wear amount (volume or mass loss), friction coefficient, surface scratch depth. Applicable scenarios: Evaluate the wear resistance of tungsten cemented carbide balls in reciprocating motion, such as for mining tools.

(2) Rotational friction test

Principle: Fix the tungsten cemented carbide ball on a rotating device and make rotational contact with the mating material to simulate the wear in the rotating machinery.

Test equipment: Rotary friction wear tester (such as pin-on-disc or ball-on-disc).

Evaluation indicators: Wear rate, surface morphology change, wear scar width.

Applicable scenarios: Applicable to evaluate the wear resistance of tungsten cemented carbide balls in rotating equipment, such as drill bits or bearings.

(3) Abrasive wear test

Principle: Place the tungsten cemented carbide ball in an environment containing abrasive particles (such as sand or aluminum oxide particles) to simulate the abrasive wear in actual working conditions.

Test equipment: Abrasive wear tester or grinding wheel wear tester.

Evaluation indicators: Mass loss, volume wear, surface roughness change.

Applicable scenarios: Simulate the wear resistance of tungsten cemented carbide balls in high-abrasive environments such as quarrying and mining. (4) Scratch resistance test Principle: Use a higher hardness scratching needle (such as a diamond needle) to apply increasing loads on the surface of the tungsten cemented carbide ball to test its scratch resistance. Test equipment: scratch tester. Evaluation indicators: critical scratch load, scratch morphology, surface cracks. Applicable scenarios: Evaluate the damage resistance of the tungsten cemented carbide ball surface under high stress contact. 

2. Test standards

The wear resistance test of tungsten cemented carbide balls usually refers to the following international or industry standards: 

ASTM G99: Pin-on-disc friction and wear test standard, applicable to rotational friction testing. 

ASTM G133: Linear reciprocating sliding wear test standard. 

ISO 20808: Abrasive wear test standard, applicable to evaluating the wear resistance of materials in abrasive environments. 

GB/T 12444: Chinese national standard, involving friction and wear test methods for metal materials. 

These standards specify test conditions, equipment requirements and data processing methods to ensure the repeatability and comparability of test results. 

3. Key Points

Sample Preparation: The surface of the tungsten cemented carbide ball must be cleaned and polished to avoid surface defects that may affect the test results. The ball size and material (e.g., WC-Co alloy) must meet the test requirements.

Environmental Control: The test environment (e.g., dry, lubricated, wet) should simulate actual operating conditions. Lubricant type and temperature significantly influence the results.

Dual Material Selection: Select an appropriate dual material based on the application, such as steel, ceramic, or rock, taking into account its hardness and surface roughness.

Data Analysis:

Wear Volume: Measure wear volume by weighing (mass loss) or 3D profiling.

Coefficient of Friction: Records changes in friction force during the test, reflecting the surface properties of the material.

Microscopic Analysis: Observe the worn surface using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) or optical microscope to analyze the wear mechanism (e.g., abrasive wear, adhesive wear, or fatigue wear).

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