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

POM

Unfilled

13 vs

PA 6/6

Unfilled

132 0.24

POM

Unfilled

61 vs

PA 6/6

30% Glass Fiber

228 0.22

POM

Unfilled

61 vs

PA 6/6

30% Glass Fiber

15% PTFE

106 0.25

POM

Unfilled

13 vs

PC

Unfilled

41 0.47

POM

20% PTFE

4 vs

PA 6/6

Unfilled

11 0.10

POM

20% PTFE

40 vs

PA 6/6

30% Glass Fiber

149 0.24

POM

20% PTFE

68 vs

PA 6/6

30% Glass Fiber

15% PTFE

118 0.20

POM

20% PTFE

6 vs

PA 6/6

30% Carbon Fiber

15% PTFE

13 0.23

POM

20% PTFE

48 vs

PC

Unfilled

99 0.42

POM

20% PTFE

26 vs

PA 6/6

30% Glass Fiber

15% PTFE

63 0.27

POM

20% PTFE

44 vs 88 0.42

POM

20% PTFE

8 vs

PA 6/6

20% PTFE

48 0.32

POM

30% Glass Fiber

15% PTFE

4 vs

PA 6/6

20% PTFE

98 0.14

POM

30& Glass Fiber

15% PTFE

222 vs

PA 6/6

30% Glass Fiber

15% PTFE

244 0.24

POM

30% Glass Fiber

15% PTFE

93 vs

PA 6/12

30% Glass Fiber

15% PTFE

173 0.20

POM

30% Glass Fiber

15% PTFE

433 vs

PC

30% Glass Fiber

15% PTFE

626 0.28

POM

30% Glass Fiber

15% PTFE

302 vs

POM

30% Glass Fiber

15% PTFE

103 0.28

POM

30% Glass Fiber

15% PTFE

86 vs

PBT

15% Glass Fiber

218 0.23

POM

PTFE Lubricated

Silicone Lubricated

UL94 HB

1167 vs

POM

PTFE Lubricated

Silicone Lubricated

UL94 HB

326 0.36
RTP 899 X 93812

POM

Glass Fiber Reinforced

Internally Lubricated

19 vs

POM

PFPE Lubricated

PTFE Lubricated

15 0.30
RTP 899 X 93812

POM

Glass Fiber Reinforced

Internally Lubricated

37 vs

POM

Unfilled

1055 0.39

POM

PFPE Lubricated

PTFE Lubricated

73 vs

POM

PTFE Lubricated

Silicone Lubricated

UL94 HB

127 0.23

POM

PFPE Lubricated

PTFE Lubricated

30 vs

POM

PFPE Lubricated

PTFE Lubricated

22 0.25

POM

PFPE Lubricated

PTFE Lubricated

2 vs

PA 6/6

20% PTFE

44 0.27
  • 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 POM

93 0.40 102 0.42 150 0.44

2% Silicone

42 0.43 46 0.41 60 0.51

10% PTFE

85 0.68 13 0.29 7 0.18

15% PTFE

67 0.26 22 0.34

20% PTFE

82 0.25 14 0.34

10% PTFE

2% Silicone

9 0.29 6 0.24 9 0.14

30% Glass Fiber

15% PTFE

71 0.46 135 0.36 867 0.34

15% Carbon Fiber

10% PTFE

160 0.30 219 0.40

10% Aramid Fiber

15% PTFE

23 0.18 8 0.25 3 0.19

PFPE Lubricated

PTFE Lubricated

14 0.44 43 0.37 78 0.46
  • 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.