ASTM D2625 Test Method for Endurance (Wear) Life and Load-Carrying Capacity of Solid Film Lubricants (Falex Pin and Vee Method)
6. Apparatus
6.1 Falex Pin and Vee Block Test Machine, illustrated in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2.
6.1.1 Load Gage, 4500-lbf (20 000-N) range, or 3000-lbf (13 300-N) direct-reading gage. An 800-lbf (3550-N) direct-reading load gage may be used for Procedure A, but does not have a high enough load range for Procedure B.
NOTE 1 - Primary figures for loads are shown for the 4500-lbf (20 000-N) gage. Equivalent readings on either 800 or 3000-lbf (3550 or 13 300-N) direct-reading gages are shown in parentheses and can be obtained from the curve in Fig. 3.
6.1.2 Optional - An automatic cutoff, torque recorder, and timer may be used in place of the standard indicating torque gage.
6.2 Required for Calibration of Load Gage:
6.2.1 Standardized Test Coupon, soft, annealed copper HB 37/39.
6.2.2 Allen Screw, with attached 10-mm Brinell ball.
6.2.3 Back-up Plug.
6.2.4 Brinell Microscope, or equivalent.
6.2.5 Rule, steel, 150 mm (6 in.) long.
6.2.6 Timer, graduated in minutes and seconds.
6.3 Required for Application of Dry Solid Film Lubricants (see Annex A1):
6.3.1 Desiccator, for storing test parts. The bottom of the desiccator shall be filled with desiccant to maintain approximately 50 % relative humidity. (Not required if parts can be stored in a fume-free room at 50 +/- 5 % relative humidity.)
6.3.2 Forced-Circulation Oven, capable of maintaining a temperature of 149 +/- 5°C (300 +/- 10°F).
6.3.3 Micrometer, reading 0 to 25 +/- 0.0025 mm (0 to 1 +/- 0.0001 in.), with a one-ball anvil.
6.3.4 Vapor Degreasing Bath.
7. Reagents and Materials
7.1 Required for Procedures A and B:
7.1.1 Eight Standard Vee Blocks, 96 +/- 1° angle, heat treated to 1.24 x 10(9) to 1.38 x 10(9) Pa (180 000 to 200 000 psi) tensile strength; or standard coined vee blocks, 96 +/- 1° angle, of AISI C-1137 steel as an alternative, with a Rockwell hardness of HRC 20 to 24 and surface finish of 1.3 x 10(-7) to 2.5 x 10(-7) m (5 to 10 µin.), rms.
7.1.2 Four Standard Test Pins, 6.35-mm (1/4-in.) outside diameter by 31.75 mm (1 1/4 in.) long, heat treated to 1.24 x 10(9) to 1.38 x 10(9) Pa (180 000 to 200 000 psi) ultimate hardness; or Standard No. 8 Pins of AISI 3135 steel as an alternative, with a hardness of HRB 87 to 91, on a ground, flat surface (or approximately HRB 80 to 83 on the round), and a surface finish of 1.3 x 10(-7) to 2.5 x 10(-7) m (5 to 10 µin.) rms.
7.1.3 Locking (Shear) Pin, 1/2 H Brass, conforming to Specification B 16.
7.2 Required for Application of Dry Solid Film Lubricant (see Annex A1):
7.2.1 Phosphate Coating, manganese, conforming to Military Specification MIL-P-16232F, Type M, Class 3 controlled to a coating weight of 16 to 22 g/m2.
NOTE 2 - Lack of rigid control of the phosphate coating weight can significantly impact the data scatter. A film controlled to the minimum range is preferred over the uncontrolled standard heavy phosphate originally called out.
7.2.2 Cleaners - Select a cleaning media and method which is safe, non-film forming and which does not in any way attack or etch the surface chemically. In addition, no Class 1 ozone depleting substances conforming to Section 602(a) of the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 (42USC7671a) as identified in Section 326 of PL 102-484 should be used. Use a procedure as outlined in Test Method F 22 to judge the merit of the selected cleaning technique.
NOTE 3 - A typical solvent found acceptable for this purpose is Stoddard solvent.
7.2.2.1 No method of cleaning can be judged as acceptable unless there is a valid method of judging the success or failure of the cleaning method. Test Method F 22 is a simple procedure that can be used on the actual test apparatus or on test coupons to judge each cleaning method's viability.
7.2.3 Aluminum Oxide, white angular abrasive, 180 grit to 220 grit.
