Coil coated metal has been designed to resist this damage, but assessing the physical properties needed for a paint film to resist the various opportunities for damage is a daunting task. The branch of science that studies friction, lubrication and wear is known as Tribology.
For coil coatings, we are primarily concerned with two types of wear—Abrasive Wear and Adhesive Wear. Adhesive wear is concerned with a transfer of material from one surface to the other, or the formation of a particle that can then create wear. Abrasive wear is the result of two surfaces rubbing against each other, but where no material transfer is evident.
Tribology is a science that studies the interaction of surfaces. These surfaces might be the piston in an internal combustion engine, or the lubricant that attempts to minimize the influences of friction between the piston and cylinder wall. Tribology is the study of friction, lubrication and wear. These cannot be neatly separated into individual issues. Interactions between surfaces are not trivial. They involve complex relationships among myriad factors, but this tool kit attempts to minimize the complexity.
The resistance of materials and structures to abrasion can be measured by a variety of test methods. These often use a specified abrasive or other controlled means of abrasion. Under the conditions of the test, the results can be reported or can be compared items subjected to similar tests.
Abrasion resistance is the ability of a material to withstand wear. Although wear and abrasion are often used interchangeably, there is a difference. Abrasion is the action (or cause); wear is the result (or effect). ASTM defines abrasion as “the wearing away of any part of a material by rubbing against another surface”.Abrasion wear is caused by mechanical action of surfaces rubbing against each other, resulting in the loss of material.
