Wear factor (K) is an indication of a materials resistance to wear as a function of the volume of material lost, force (load) and velocity at the wear interface and time. It is often determined using a “thrust washer” wear testing apparatus per ASTM D3702 in which a molded plastic specimen is rotated against a substrate thrust washer under set pressure and velocity conditions.

A wear factor is calculated with the equation W=K*F*V*T. In this equation W is wear volume (in3), K is wear factor (in3 min/ft lb hr)10-10, F is force (lb), V is velocity (ft/min), and T is elapsed time (hr).

A material with a lower wear factor (K) has greater resistance to wear and these values are useful for material comparison purposes.

[ View wear data in metric units | Return to wear data resin system list ]

Plastic vs Steel

RTP Product Tested vs. Steel (1018 C)
PV 2000

Load 8

Speed 50

PV 5000

Load 10

Speed 100

PV 10000

Load 40

Speed 50

Wear
Factor
µ
Dynamic
Wear
Factor
µ
Dynamic
Wear
Factor
µ
Dynamic

30% Glass Fiber

15% PTFE

UL94 V-0

51 0.44 94 0.41 178 0.34

30% Carbon Fiber

15% PTFE

42 0.33 17 0.50 24 0.59

15% Aramid Fiber

15% PTFE

17 0.25 19 0.22 11 0.18
  • Thrust washer testing conducted per ASTM D 3702
  • Wear Factor units: (in3 min/ft lb hr)10-10
  • PV units: lb ft/in2 min
  • Load units: lbs
  • Speed units: ft/min

Comparing competitive data note

RTP Company reports Wear Factors per unit Force (KF) with units of (in3 min/ft lb hr)10-10. This is the industry standard way to calculate and report Wear Factor. Some suppliers report Wear Factors per unit Pressure (KP) with units of (in5 min/ft lb hr)10-10. This value is arrived at by dividing the KF by the contact surface of the test specimen (0.35 in2). As result of this reporting discrepency, RTP Company’s Wear Factor values appear to be significantly higher. For example a KP of 3 (in5 min/ft lb hr)10-10 would be equal to KF of 3/0.35 = 8.57 (in3 min/ft lb hr)10-10.

No information supplied by RTP Company constitutes a warranty regarding product performance or use. Any information regarding performance or use is only offered as suggestion for investigation for use, based upon RTP Company or other customer experience. RTP Company makes no warranties, expressed or implied, concerning the suitability or fitness of any of its products for any particular purpose. It is the responsibility of the customer to determine that the product is safe, lawful and technically suitable for the intended use. The disclosure of information herein is not a license to operate under, or a recommendation to infringe any patents.