ASTM D5183-05(2016)
(Test Method)Standard Test Method for Determination of the Coefficient of Friction of Lubricants Using the Four-Ball Wear Test Machine
Standard Test Method for Determination of the Coefficient of Friction of Lubricants Using the Four-Ball Wear Test Machine
SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
5.1 This test method can be used to determine the coefficient of friction of lubricating fluids under the prescribed test conditions. The user of this test method should determine to his own satisfaction whether results of this test method correlate with field performance or other bench test machines.
SCOPE
1.1 This test method covers a procedure for determining the coefficient of friction by means of the Four-Ball Wear Test Machine.2
1.2 The values stated in either SI units or in the former cm-kgf metric units are to be regarded separately as the standard. Within the text the cm-kgf units are shown in parentheses. The values stated in each system are not exact equivalents, therefore each system must be used independently of the other. Combining values from the two systems can result in nonconformance to specification.
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, 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. Specific warning statements are given in 7.3 – 7.6.
General Information
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Designation: D5183 − 05 (Reapproved 2016)
Standard Test Method for
Determination of the Coefficient of Friction of Lubricants
Using the Four-Ball Wear Test Machine
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D5183; 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 (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope 2.2 ANSI Standard:
B3.12 Specification for Metal Balls
1.1 This test method covers a procedure for determining the
coefficient of friction by means of the Four-Ball Wear Test
3. Terminology
Machine.
3.1 Definitions:
1.2 The values stated in either SI units or in the former
3.1.1 coeffıcient of friction, (µ)—the ratio of the tangential
cm-kgf metric units are to be regarded separately as the
force that is needed to start or to maintain uniform relative
standard. Within the text the cm-kgf units are shown in
motion between two contacting surfaces to the perpendicular
parentheses. The values stated in each system are not exact
force holding them in contact.
equivalents, therefore each system must be used independently
of the other. Combining values from the two systems can result
4. Summary of Test Method
in nonconformance to specification.
4.1 Three12.7 mm(0.5 in.)diametersteelballsareclamped
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the
together and covered with 10 mL of the wear-in lubricant. A
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
fourth 12.7 mm diameter ball, referred to as the “top ball” is
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
pressed with a force of 392 N (40 kgf) into the cavity formed
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
by the three clamped balls for three-point contact. The tem-
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. Specific warning
perature of the wear-in lubricant is regulated at 75 °C (167 °F),
statements are given in 7.3 – 7.6.
and then, the top ball is rotated at 600 r⁄min for 60 min.
4.2 Fluid is discarded and balls cleaned. The wear scar
2. Referenced Documents
diameter on each of the lower three balls is examined. If the
2.1 ASTM Standards:
wear scars average 0.67 mm 6 0.03 mm, (0.026 in. 6
D4172 Test Method for Wear Preventive Characteristics of
0.001 in.) then the 10 mL of test fluid is added to the ball cup
Lubricating Fluid (Four-Ball Method)
with the worn-in test balls in place. The temperature of the test
lubricant is regulated at 75 °C (167 °F) and the top ball is
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D02 on
rotated at 600 r⁄min at 98.1 N (10 kgf) for 10 min.
Petroleum Products, Liquid Fuels, and Lubricants and is the direct responsibility of
4.3 The load is then increased by 98.1 N (10 kgf) at the end
Subcommittee D02.L0.11 on Tribological Properties of Industrial Fluids and
Lubricates.
of each successive 10 min interval up to the point where the
Current edition approved July 1, 2016. Published July 2016. Originally approved
frictional trace indicates incipient seizure. The coefficient of
in 1991. Last previous edition approved in 2011 as D5183 – 05 (2011). DOI:
friction is measured at the end of each 10 min interval.
10.1520/D5183-05R16.
The sole source of supply of the Four-Ball Wear Test Machine known to the
5. Significance and Use
committee at this time is Falex Corp., 1020 Airpark Dr., Sugar Grove, IL 60554. If
you are aware of alternative suppliers, please provide this information to ASTM
5.1 Thistestmethodcanbeusedtodeterminethecoefficient
International Headquarters. Your comments will receive careful consideration at a
of friction of lubricating fluids under the prescribed test
meeting of the responsible technical committee, which you may attend.
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on Available from American National Standards Institute (ANSI), 25 W. 43rd St.,
the ASTM website. 4th Floor, New York, NY 10036, http://www.ansi.org.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
D5183 − 05 (2016)
FIG. 1 Schematic of a Four-Ball Wear Test Machine
conditions.Theuserofthistestmethodshoulddeterminetohis
own satisfaction whether results of this test method correlate
with field performance or other bench test machines.
6. Apparatus
6.1 Four-Ball Test Machine —See Figs. 1-3.
NOTE 1—It is important to distinguish between the Four-Ball E.P. and
theFour-BallWearTestMachine(seeTestMethodD4172).TheFour-Ball
E.P.Test Machine is designed for testing under heavier loads and lacks the
sensitivity necessary for wear tests.
6.2 Microscope, capable of measuring the diameters of the
scars produced on the three balls to an accuracy of 0.01 mm
without removal from the ball test cup.
6.3 Test Balls, chrome alloy steel, made fromAISI Standard
Steel No. E-52100, with diameter of 12.7 mm (0.5 in.) Grade
25 EP (extra polish). Such balls are described in ANSI
SpecificationsB3.12.Theextra-polishfinishisnotdescribedin
FIG. 2 Falex Variable—Speed Four-Ball Wear Test Machine
that specification. The Rockwell C hardness shall be 64 to 66,
a closer limit than is found in the ANSI requirement.
7.5 Methyl ethyl ketone—(Warning—Flammable. Health
7. Reagents and Materials
hazard.)
7.1 Purity of Reagents—Reagent grade chemicals shall be
7.6 Pyridine—(Warning—Flammable. Health hazard.)
used in all tests. Unless otherwise indicated, it is intended that
all reagents conform to the specifications of the Committee on
8. Preparation of Apparatus
Analytical Reagents of the American Chemical Society where
such specifications are available. Other grades may be used, 8.1 Set up the drive of the machine to obtain a spindle speed
of 600 r⁄min 6 30 r⁄min.
provided it is first ascertained that the reagent is of sufficiently
high purity to permit its use without lessening the accuracy of
8.2 Set temperature regulator to produce a test-oil tempera-
the determination.
ture of 75 °C 6 2 °C (167 °F 6 4 °F).
7.2 Wear-In Lubricant, white oil having a viscosity at 40 °C
8.3 Ifanautomatictimerisusedtoterminateatest,itshould
of 24.3 cSt to 26.1 cSt (100 °F of 125/135 SUS). It should be
becheckedfortherequired 61 minaccuracyat60 minelapsed
percolated through activated alumina to remove any residual
time, and 610 s at 10 min elapsed time.
impurities.
8.4 The loading mechanism should be balanced to a zero
7.3 Acetone—(Warning—Flammable. Health hazard.)
reading with all parts and test oil in place. To demonstrate
proper precision an addition or subtraction of 2.0 N (0.2 kgf)
7.4 n-Heptane—(Warning—Flammable. Health hazard.)
should be detectable in imbalance. Determination of accuracy
of loading at 147 N and 392 N (1 kgf5 and 40 kgf) is difficult
The Four-Ball Wear Test Machine and the Falex Multi-Specimen Friction and
and generally limited to careful measurement of lever-arm
Wear Test Machine, both made by Falex Corp., 1020 Airpark Dr., Sugar Grove, IL
ratios and weights or piston diameter and pressure gauge
60554 have been found satisfactory for this purpose. This company can also furnish
a microscope with a special base to measure the wear scars without removing the
calibration.
ballsfromthetest-oilcup.DiscontinuedmodelsoftheFour-BallWearTestMachine
made by Precision Scientific Co. and Roxana Machine Works are also satisfactory. NOTE 2—Because of differences in the construction of the various
Reagent Chemicals, American Chemical Society Specifications, American
machines on which the four-ball can be made, the manufacturer’s
Chemical Society, Washington, DC. For Suggestions on the testing of reagents not
instructions should be consulted for proper machine set up and operation.
listed by the American Chemical Society, see Annual Standards for Laboratory
Chemicals, BDH Ltd., Poole, Dorset, U.K., and the United States Pharmacopeia
9. Conditioning
and National Formulary, U.S. Pharmacopeial Convention, Inc. (USPC), Rockville,
MD. 9.1 Test Conditions—See Table 1.
D5183 − 05 (2016)
FIG. 3 Falex Multi-Specimen Friction and Wear Test Machine
TABLE 1 Test Conditions
balls. Observe that this oil level still exists after the lubricant
Wear-In Test
fills all of the voids in the test oil cup assembly.
Temperature 75 °C ± 2 °C 75 °C ± 2 °C
10.5 Install the test-oil cup/three balls in the machine and
(167 °F ± 4 °F) (167 °F ± 4 °F)
Speed 600 r/min 600 r/min
avoid shock loading by slowly applying the test load 392 N
Duration 60 min 10 min
(40 kgf).
Load 392 N (40 kgf) per 60 min 98.1 N (10 kgf) per
...
This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
Designation: D5183 − 05 (Reapproved 2011) D5183 − 05 (Reapproved 2016)
Standard Test Method for
Determination of the Coefficient of Friction of Lubricants
Using the Four-Ball Wear Test Machine
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D5183; 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 (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope
1.1 This test method covers a procedure for determining the coefficient of friction by means of the Four-Ball Wear Test
Machine.
1.2 The values stated in either SI units or in the former cm-kgf metric units are to be regarded separately as the standard. Within
the text the cm-kgf units are shown in parentheses. The values stated in each system are not exact equivalents, therefore each
system must be used independently of the other. Combining values from the two systems can result in nonconformance to
specification.
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, 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. Specific warning statements are given in 7.3 – 7.6.
2. Referenced Documents
2.1 ASTM Standards:
D4172 Test Method for Wear Preventive Characteristics of Lubricating Fluid (Four-Ball Method)
2.2 ANSI Standard:
B3.12 Specification for Metal Balls
3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions:
3.1.1 coeffıcient of friction, (μ)—the ratio of the tangential force that is needed to start or to maintain uniform relative motion
between two contacting surfaces to the perpendicular force holding them in contact.
4. Summary of Test Method
4.1 Three 12.7 mm (0.5 in.) 12.7 mm (0.5 in.) diameter steel balls are clamped together and covered with 10 mL 10 mL of the
wear-in lubricant. A fourth 12.7 mm 12.7 mm diameter ball, referred to as the “top ball” is pressed with a force of 392 N (40 kgf)
392 N (40 kgf) into the cavity formed by the three clamped balls for three-point contact. The temperature of the wear-in lubricant
is regulated at 75°C (167°F),75 °C (167 °F), and then, the top ball is rotated at 600600 r rpm for 60 min.⁄min for 60 min.
4.2 Fluid is discarded and balls cleaned. The wear scar diameter on each of the lower three balls is examined. If the wear scars
average 0.67 6 0.03 mm, (0.026 6 0.001 in.) then the 10 mL 0.67 mm 6 0.03 mm, (0.026 in. 6 0.001 in.) then the 10 mL of test
fluid is added to the ball cup with the worn-in test balls in place. The temperature of the test lubricant is regulated at 75°C
(167°F)75 °C (167 °F) and the top ball is rotated at 600600 r rpm at 98.1 N (10 kgf) for 10 min.⁄min at 98.1 N (10 kgf) for 10 min.
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D02 on Petroleum Products, Liquid Fuels, and Lubricants and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee
D02.L0.11 on TribiologicalTribological Properties of Industrial Fluids and Lubricates.
Current edition approved May 1, 2011July 1, 2016. Published August 2011July 2016. Originally approved in 1991. Last previous edition approved in 20052011 as
D5183–05. DOI: 10.1520/D5183-05R11. – 05 (2011). DOI: 10.1520/D5183-05R16.
The sole source of supply of the Four-Ball Wear Test Machine known to the committee at this time is Falex Corp., 1020 Airpark Dr., Sugar Grove, IL 60554. If you
are aware of alternative suppliers, please provide this information to ASTM International Headquarters. Your comments will receive careful consideration at a meeting of
the responsible technical committee, which you may attend.
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM Standards
volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
Available from American National Standards Institute (ANSI), 25 W. 43rd St., 4th Floor, New York, NY 10036, http://www.ansi.org.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
D5183 − 05 (2016)
FIG. 1 Schematic of a Four-Ball Wear Test Machine
4.3 The load is then increased by 98.1 N (10 kgf) 98.1 N (10 kgf) at the end of each successive 10 min 10 min interval up to
the point where the frictional trace indicates incipient seizure. The coefficient of friction is measured at the end of each 10 min
10 min interval.
5. Significance and Use
5.1 This test method can be used to determine the coefficient of friction of lubricating fluids under the prescribed test conditions.
The user of this test method should determine to his own satisfaction whether results of this test method correlate with field
performance or other bench test machines.
6. Apparatus
6.1 Four-Ball Test Machine —See Figs. 1-3.
NOTE 1—It is important to distinguish between the Four-Ball E.P. and the Four-Ball Wear Test Machine (see Test Method D4172). The Four-Ball E.P.
Test Machine is designed for testing under heavier loads and lacks the sensitivity necessary for wear tests.
6.2 Microscope, capable of measuring the diameters of the scars produced on the three balls to an accuracy of 0.01 mm 0.01 mm
without removal from the ball test cup.
6.3 Test Balls, chrome alloy steel, made from AISI Standard Steel No. E-52100, with diameter of 12.7 mm (0.5 in.) 12.7 mm
(0.5 in.) Grade 25 EP (extra polish). Such balls are described in ANSI Specifications B3.12. The extra-polish finish is not described
in that specification. The Rockwell C hardness shall be 64 to 66, a closer limit than is found in the ANSI requirement.
7. Reagents and Materials
7.1 Purity of Reagents—Reagent grade chemicals shall be used in all tests. Unless otherwise indicated, it is intended that all
reagents conform to the specifications of the Committee on Analytical Reagents of the American Chemical Society where such
specifications are available. Other grades may be used, provided it is first ascertained that the reagent is of sufficiently high purity
to permit its use without lessening the accuracy of the determination.
7.2 Wear-In Lubricant, white oil having a viscosity at 40°C40 °C of 24.3 to 26.1 cSt (100°F 24.3 cSt to 26.1 cSt (100 °F of
125/135 SUS). It should be percolated through activated alumina to remove any residual impurities.
7.3 Acetone—(Warning—Flammable. Health hazard.)
7.4 n-Heptane—(Warning—Flammable. Health hazard.)
7.5 Methyl ethyl ketone—(Warning—Flammable. Health hazard.)—
7.6 Pyridine—(Warning—Flammable. Health hazard.)—
8. Preparation of Apparatus
8.1 Set up the drive of the machine to obtain a spindle speed of 600600 r ⁄min 6 30 30 r rpm.⁄min.
8.2 Set temperature regulator to produce a test-oil temperature of 7575 °C 6 2°C (1672 °C (167 °F 6 4°F).4 °F).
8.3 If an automatic timer is used to terminate a test, it should be checked for the required 61 min 61 min accuracy at 60 min
60 min elapsed time, and 610 s at 10 min 610 s at 10 min elapsed time.
The Four-Ball Wear Test Machine and the Falex Multi-Specimen Friction and Wear Test Machine, both made by Falex Corp., 1020 Airpark Dr., Sugar Grove, IL 60554
have been found satisfactory for this purpose. This company can also furnish a microscope with a special base to measure the wear scars without removing the balls from
the test-oil cup. Discontinued models of the Four-Ball Wear Test Machine made by Precision Scientific Co. and Roxana Machine Works are also satisfactory.
Reagent Chemicals, American Chemical Society Specifications, American Chemical Society, Washington, DC. For Suggestions on the testing of reagents not listed by
the American Chemical Society, see Annual Standards for Laboratory Chemicals, BDH Ltd., Poole, Dorset, U.K., and the United States Pharmacopeia and National
Formulary, U.S. Pharmacopeial Convention, Inc. (USPC), Rockville, MD.
D5183 − 05 (2016)
FIG. 2 Falex Variable—Speed Four-Ball Wear Test Machine
8.4 The loading mechanism should be balanced to a zero reading with all parts and test oil in place. To demonstrate proper
precision an addition or subtraction of 2.0 N (0.2 kgf) 2.0 N (0.2 kgf) should be detectable in imbalance. Determination of accuracy
of loading at 147 and 392 N (15 and 40 kgf) 147 N and 392 N (1 kgf5 and 40 kgf) is difficult and generally limited to careful
measurement of lever-arm ratios and weights or piston diameter and pressure gagegauge calibration.
NOTE 2—Because of differences in the construction of the various machines on which the four-ball can be made, the manufacturer’s instructions should
be consulted for proper machine set up and operation.
9. Conditioning
9.1 Test Conditions—See Table 1.
10. Procedure
10.1 Thoroughly clean four test balls, clamping parts for upper and lower balls and the ball cup by first soaking in heptane for
1 min 1 min and then with sonic agitation for 10 s. 10 s. Drain and rinse with fresh heptane.
10.1.1 Repeat 10.1 using acetone. Blow dry under a stream of nitrogen gas. After cleaning, handle all parts using only a fresh
wipe. No trace of
...
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