Taber Abraser

Rotary Wear

High precision testing instruments of this design evaluate the resistance of coatings and paperboard substrates to rotary rub wear. The taber abraser utilizes a pair of abrasive wheels that apply a constant rubbing force to a rotating flat specimen. This action provides a highly reproducible wear pattern that simulates long term abrasion.

Wear Mechanism

Operation involves mounting a flat specimen on a rotating turntable that rotates beneath two weighted abrasive wheels. The wheels are driven by the rotation of the turntable, which creates a sliding wear action in a circular path. A constant force is applied to the wheels by adding weights to the pivoting arms.

The wear resistance is determined by measuring the mass loss of the specimen after a specified number of cycles or by observing the number of cycles required to wear through the coating.

Specimen Limit

Proper specimen preparation requires a flat and rigid sheet that can be securely clamped to the rotating turntable. This test is highly sensitive to the type of abrasive wheels used and the frequency of their cleaning and refacing. The method does not apply to highly flexible or non flat materials that cannot be held flat on the turntable.

Regular dressing of the wheels is essential to ensure a consistent and repeatable abrasive surface.