Standard Test Method for Wear Preventive Characteristics of Lubricating Grease (Four-Ball Method)

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
The four-ball wear-test method can be used to determine the relative wear-preventing properties of greases under the test conditions and if the test conditions are changed the relative ratings may be different. No correlation has been established between the four-ball wear test and field service. The test method cannot be used to differentiate between Extreme Pressure (EP) and Non-Extreme Pressure (Non-EP) Greases.5
SCOPE
1.1 This test method covers the determination of the wear preventive characteristics of greases in sliding steel-on-steel applications. It is not intended to predict wear characteristics with metal combinations other than steel-on-steel or to evaluate the extreme pressure characteristics of the grease.
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard except where the test apparatus or consumable parts are only available in other units. In such cases, these will be regarded as standard. The values given in parentheses are for information only.
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety problems, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

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Publication Date
09-Dec-2001
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ASTM D2266-01 - Standard Test Method for Wear Preventive Characteristics of Lubricating Grease (Four-Ball Method)
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NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information
An American National Standard
Designation: D 2266 – 01
Standard Test Method for
Wear Preventive Characteristics of Lubricating Grease
1
(Four-Ball Method)
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 2266; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the Department of Defense.
1. Scope 4. Summary of Test Method
1
1.1 This test method covers the determination of the wear 4.1 Three ⁄2 in. (12.7-mm) diameter steel balls are clamped
preventive characteristics of greases in sliding steel-on-steel together and covered with the lubricant to be evaluated. A
1
applications. It is not intended to predict wear characteristics fourth ⁄2 in. diameter steel ball, referred to as the top ball, is
withmetalcombinationsotherthansteel-on-steelortoevaluate pressed with a force of 40 kgf (392 N) into the cavity formed
the extreme pressure characteristics of the grease. by the three clamped balls for three-point contact. The tem-
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the peratureofthelubricatinggreasespecimenisregulatedat75°C
standard except where the test apparatus or consumable parts (167°F) and then the top ball is rotated at 1200 rpm for 60 min.
are only available in other units. In such cases, these will be Lubricants are compared by using the average size of the scar
regarded as standard. The values given in parentheses are for diameters worn on the three lower clamped balls.
information only.
NOTE 1—Because of differences in the construction of the various
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the
machines on which the four-ball test can be made, the manufacturer’s
safety problems, if any, associated with its use. It is the
instructions should be consulted for proper machine setup and operation.
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
NOTE 2—Although the test can be run under other test parameters, the
precision noted in Section 11 can vary when testing with other than test
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
parameters listed in Section 8.
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
5. Significance and Use
2. Referenced Documents
5.1 The four-ball wear-test method can be used to determine
2.1 ASTM Standards:
therelativewear-preventingpropertiesofgreasesunderthetest
D 4172 Test Method for Wear Preventive Characteristics of
2
conditions and if the test conditions are changed the relative
Lubricating Fluid (Four-Ball Method)
ratings may be different. No correlation has been established
D 6300 Practice for Determination of Precision and Bias
between the four-ball wear test and field service. The test
Data for Use in Test Methods for Petroleum Products and
3 method cannot be used to differentiate between Extreme
Lubricants
5
Pressure (EP) and Non-Extreme Pressure (Non-EP) Greases.
2.2 ANSI Standard:
4
B3.12 for Metal Balls
6. Apparatus
3. Terminology 6.1 Four-Ball Wear-Tester andAccessories—See Fig. 1 and
6
Fig. 2.
3.1 There are no terms in this test method that require new
or other than dictionary definitions.
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D02 on
Petroleum Products and Lubricants and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee
D02.G0.04 on Functional Tests - Tribology.
5
Current edition approved Dec. 10, 2001. Published February 2002. Originally Further details on this test method may be found in: Stallings, L., et al., NLGI
published as D 2266 – 64 T. Last previous edition D 2266 – 91 (1996). Spokesman, Vol 31, No. 11, February 1968, pp. 396–401.
6
This test method has been adopted for use by government agencies to replace The Four-Ball Wear Test Machine, available from Falex Corp., 1020 Airpark
Method 6514 of Federal Test Method Standard No. 791b. Drive, Sugar Grove, IL 60554 has been found satisfactory for this purpose. This
2
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 05.02. company can also furnish a microscope with a special base to measure the wear
3
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 05.04. scars without removing the balls from the test-oil cup. Discontinued models of the
4
Available fromAmerican National Standards Institute, 25 West 43rd Street, 4th Four-BallWearTestMachinemadebyPrecisionScientificCo.andRoxanaMachine
Floor, New York, NY 10036. Works are also satisfactory.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
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D2266–01
NOTE 4—Steel balls meeting this description were used in developing
the precision
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