Model 1700 / 1750 Rotary Platform Abraser
3
Operating Instructions ver. 1.0
p/n 135505
INTRODUCTION
The
Model 1700
and
1750 Taber Rotary Platform
Abrasers
are durable, precision built test
instruments designed to evaluate the resistance of
surfaces to rubbing abrasion. The field of
application is varied and includes tests of solid
materials,
coated
surfaces
(paint,
lacquer,
electroplate, powder coat), plastics, textiles
(ranging from sheer silks to heavy upholstery),
metals, leather, rubber, linoleum, plus many others.
Commonly referred to as the “Taber test”, the Taber
Abraser is a simple, effective means to determine a
material’s resistance to abrasion. The characteristic
rub-wear action is produced by the contact of a test
sample turning on a vertical axis, against the sliding
rotation of two abrading wheels. The wheels are
driven by the sample in opposite directions about a
horizontal axis displaced tangentially from the axis
of the sample. One abrading wheel rubs the
specimen outward toward the periphery and the
other, inward toward the center. The resulting
abrasion marks form a pattern of crossed arcs over
an area of approximately 30 cm
2
.
An important feature of the Taber Abraser is that
the wheels traverse a complete circle on the
specimen surface, revealing abrasion resistance at
all angles relative to the weave or grain of the
material.
It is important to recognize there may be several
factors that contribute to wear performance of
materials in actual use. Before predictions can be
drawn from laboratory tests, actual end-use trials
should be conducted. This helps establish the
relationship between the laboratory abrasion test
and actual wear in the intended end-use. The
consideration of additional factors is often
necessary in the calculation of predicted durability
from specific abrasion data. While “abrasion
resistance” (often stated in terms of the number of
cycles to produce a specified degree or amount of
abrasion) and “durability” (defined as the ability to
withstand deterioration or wearing out in use,
including the effects of abrasion) are frequently
related, the relationship typically varies with
different end uses.
Accelerated abrasion tests compress the life span
of a product into a much shorter duration in a
controlled and monitored environment. While the
test may not represent the actual conditions
materials are exposed to, lab tests can duplicate
many real world conditions, making it much easier
to reproduce the test. In addition, there is greater
flexibility with the methodology, costs are
significantly less, and you are able to test more
samples.
