ASTM G65


ASTM G65 is an international ASTM test method standard for measuring abrasion resistance of metallic materials and their surface treatments using a dry sand/rubber wheel apparatus. First published in 1980 and most recently revised in 2021, it has become a predominant test method for evaluating wear resistance in industries including mining, petroleum, construction, and agriculture.

History

The test method was developed to provide a reproducible laboratory procedure for ranking the abrasion resistance of materials subjected to low- to moderate-stress three-body abrasion, such as that produced by silica sand entrained between sliding surfaces.
It evolved from early work on sand-rubber-wheel testing by C. W. Haworth and was refined through round-robin evaluations organized by ASTM Committee G02 on Wear and Erosion during the 1970s, culminating in the first issue of ASTM G65, “Standard Test Method for Measuring Abrasion Using the Dry Sand/Rubber Wheel Apparatus.” Since then many revisions have occurred but the bulk of the testing process remains the same.

Test principle

Apparatus

The test employs a rubber wheel of specified hardness and diameter that rotates against a flat test specimen while a controlled flow of dry sand is fed between them. The sand abrasive needed is a very specific rounded quartz grains with a size distribution between 212 and 300 micrometers.

Test procedures

ASTM G65 defines five standard procedures with varying parameters:
ProcedureForce RevolutionsDurationTypical use
A1306,00030 minRanking materials
B1302,00010 minThin coatings
C130100VariableResearch studies
D456,00030 minThin/soft coatings
E1301,0005 minMaterial ranking

Measurement and reporting

The primary measurement is volume loss in cubic millimeters, calculated from mass loss and material density. Results may also be reported as:

Factors affecting results

Multiple variables can influence test outcomes:

Material factors

Test variables

  • Sand flow rate
  • Wheel condition and replacement interval
  • Environmental humidity and temperature
  • Specimen preparation and mounting

Applications

The test is widely employed for:
Industries utilizing G65 testing include:

Limitations

ASTM G65 has several recognized limitations:
  • Does not simulate all wear mechanisms
  • Limited to relatively low contact stresses
  • May not correlate with field performance in wet or corrosive environments
  • Ranking may differ from high-stress abrasion conditions like

Related standards