Wear Par ticle Identification Guide

Normal Boundary Lube Wear Particles Fatigue Wear Particles

200x 500x 200x 100x 200x 100x
Normal rubbing wear caused by adhesion of contacting asperities, micro Shown above are chunks from a gear tooth; a needle resulting from
delamination, or asperity deformation is shown above. These types of par- excess force in gears; and a large delamination platelet from a bearing
ticles will be present in most systems. Most are smaller than 10 microns race.
and are only a concern if the amount becomes excessive, which could
lead to increased friction.
Abnormal Boundary Lube Wear Particles Corrosion and Fretting Wear
500x par tial melt/ 100x par ticle
ther mally fused par ticle 100x black oxides with striations 500x 200x 1000x
The above abnormal boundary lubrication wear particles are of varying Corrosion and fretting wear result in the particles shown above: very small
sizes. The particles show evidence of heat during particle formation and of (less than five microns) black platelets, rusted particles, and very small
surface-to-surface contact under load (striations). (less than one micron) particles caused by additive depletion or corrosive
contaminants.
Abrasive Wear Particles Contaminants
World Headquarter s
835 Innovation Drive
Knoxville, TN 37932
Phone: (800) 675-4726
Fax: (865) 218-1401
www.compsys.com
Ribbons 200x 100x 1000x 1000x 500x 100x
Philadelphia Training Facility Houston Training Facility
Abrasive wear particles are formed when a body in motion penetrates a 140 Baldwin Tower 15425 North Freeway • Suite 160 Contaminants include salt crystals, sand (shown under a polarized light),
surface and gouges out part of the surface. Eddystone, PA 19022 Houston, TX 77090 and fiber.
Phone: (610) 876-1510 Phone: (281) 873-6000
Fax: (610) 490-3298 Fax: (281) 873-6633
San Diego Training Facility
CSI European Headquarters 8555 Aero Drive #110
Interleuvenlaan 50 San Diego, CA 92123
Research Park Interleuven Phone: (858) 571-8882
B 3001 Leuven • Belgium Fax: (858) 571-8887
Phone: 32-16-741-403
Fax: 32-16-400-457
TM