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 Plastic

Test Conditions

PV 1000

Load 4

Speed 50

Rotating Sample vs Stationary Sample µ
Dynamic
RTP Product Wear

Factor

RTP Product Wear

Factor

PC

Unfilled

1256 vs

PA 6/6

Unfilled

616 0.64

PC

Unfilled

6797 vs

PA 6/6

30% Glass Fiber

285 0.39

PC

30% Glass Fiber

3147 vs

PC

30% Glass Fiber

865 0.31

PC

30% Glass Fiber

129 vs

PA 6/6

30% Glass Fiber

15% PTFE

356 0.29

PC

30% Glass Fiber

15% PTFE

226 vs

PA 6/6

30% Glass Fiber

15% PTFE

195 0.19

PC

30% Glass Fiber

15% PTFE

809 vs

PC

Unfilled

318 0.28

PC

30% Glass Fiber

15% PTFE

98 vs

PA 6/12

30% Glass Fiber

15% PTFE

173 0.18

PC

30% Glass Fiber

15% PTFE

4 vs

PC

30% Carbon Fiber

15% PTFE

29 0.11

PC

30% Glass Fiber

15% PTFE

413 vs

PBT

30% Glass Fiber

15% PTFE

533 0.11

PC

30% Glass Fiber

15% PTFE

2 vs

PA 6/12

30% Carbon Fiber

15% PTFE

53 0.17

PC

30% Glass Fiber

15% PTFE

1169 vs

PPS

30% Glass Fiber

15% PTFE

285 0.28

PC

30% Glass Fiber

15% PTFE

329 vs

PA 6/6

30% Glass Fiber

246 0.23

PC

15% PTFE

83 vs

PC

15% PTFE

340 0.14

PC

10% Carbon Fiber

15% PTFE

2569 vs

PC

10% Glass Fiber

15% PTFE

129 0.25

PC

10% Carbon Fiber

15% PTFE

1565 vs

PC

10% Carbon Fiber

15% PTFE

101 0.32

PC

10% Carbon Fiber

15% PTFE

11 vs

PA 6/12

30% Carbon Fiber

15% PTFE

2 0.13

PC

10% Carbon Fiber

15% PTFE

14 vs

PA 6/6

30% Carbon Fiber

15% PTFE

15 0.15

PC

10% Carbon Fiber

15% PTFE

108 vs

PA 6/12

30% Glass Fiber

15% PTFE

39 0.16
  • 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

Plastic vs Steel

RTP Product RTP Product Tested vs Steel (1018 C)
Test Conditions

PV 2000

Load 8

Speed 50

Test Conditions

PV 5000

Load 10

Speed 100

Test Conditions

PV 10000

Load 40

Speed 50

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

Unfilled PC

556 0.60

10% PTFE

326 0.24 413 0.22 126 0.13

15% PTFE

131 0.33 95 0.27 34 0.21

20% PTFE

176 0.31 126 0.24 58 0.18

10% PTFE

2% Silicone

495 0.35 162 0.26 58 0.18

30% Glass Fiber

15% PTFE

88 0.35 46 0.53 501 0.27

30% Carbon Fiber

15% PTFE

142 0.30 102 0.39 36 0.36

10% Aramid Fiber

10% PTFE

490 0.38 6020 0.29 7330 0.31
  • 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.