Progress towards standardisation of ball cratering

The ball cratering (micro-abrasion) test is becoming popular as a method for the abrasion testing of surface engineered materials. It possesses many advantages over more conventional abrasion tests including the ability to test small volumes of material and thin coatings, its perceived ease of use and the low cost of the test equipment, and its versatility. Standards are now being drafted both in the USA and Europe on ball cratering, but further work is needed before this work can be completed on the effect of test variables and the choice of measurement method on the results that are achieved. This paper discusses these aspects of the test and its relevance to industrial wear problems, and describes the results of a preliminary interlaboratory exercise that has been conducted in the UK to determine the effectiveness of the test method. The paper will also give an outline of an EU funded project that has the aim of validating the test and which brings together a consortium of 10 research partners from four European countries.