Typical Experimental Parameters

Number of specimens/product: 2 specimens

Specimen dimensions: 4” X 4” with a maximum thickness of 6-7 mm

Conditioning and testing Temperature: 23 ± 2 °C

Conditioning and testing relative humidity: 50 ± 5%

Scope of ASTM D4060 Taber Abrasion:

ASTM D4060 Taber Type Abrasion Tester GT-C14B tester is a test to determine a plastic's resistance to abrasion. Resistance to abrasion is defined as the ability of a material to withstand mechanical action such as rubbing, scraping, or erosion. Abrasion can be difficult to compare but haze variation or weight loss are often evaluated.

1.1 This test method covers the determination of the resistance of organic coatings to abrasion produced by the Taber Abraser on coatings applied to a plane, rigid surface, such as a metal panel.

1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard, with the exception of mils when determining coating thickness.

Test Procedure:

The haze or original weight of test specimen is measured. The test specimen is then placed on the taber wear and abrasion tester. A 250, 500, or 1000-gram load is placed on top of the abrader wheel and allowed to spin for a specified number of revolutions. Different abrading wheels are specified. A haze measurement or final weight is taken. The load and wheel can be adjusted for softer and harder materials.

ASTM D4060 Taber Abrasion Testing

Taber rotary type abrasion tester is a specification that determines the “Abrasion Resistance of Organic Coatings by the Taber Abraser.” Although written for organic coatings, the same method applies to inorganic coatings.

At the conclusion of testing the sample(s) are then re-weighed. The wear index is then calculated by taking the average mass loss per 1,000 cycles per section 12 of ASTM D4060.

Assured Testing Services has multiple taber abrasion machines that meet  the ASTM D4060 standard. One of our machines is shown with an exposed sample on this page. 

ASTM D4060 tests abrasion resistance of organic coatings by the Taber abraser. This type of test method was introduced around the 1930s to perform accelerated wear testing. Its simplicity and effectiveness helped to make the device broadly adopted for a multitude of test protocols and specifications on a wide variety of products around the world.

Testing to ASTM D4060 involves mounting a flat specimen to a turntable that rotates horizontally at a fixed speed.  Two arms, each supporting an abrading wheel, are then lowered so that each wheel touches the surface.  Before starting the test, a “suction arm” is lowered between the wheels to remove the abraded material from the sample’s surface. The turntable then starts rotating forcing rub-wear action of the wheels against the sample’s surface for the specified number of cycles or until a given mass of coating has been lost or until the wheels start exposing the substrate. Gester instruments offers Taber abraser testing to ASTM D4060 as part of the Surface Coatings testing services.

ASTM D4060 Taber Abrasion Tester Uses and Factors to Be Considered

Taber Abrasion is used for measuring the wear resistance of organic coatings applied flat, rigid test samples.  ASTM D1044 is used for transparent plastic materials to evaluate their capacity to maintain their optical properties, upon typical, wear to be expected while in service.

Abrasion resistance to Taber Abrasion is usually measured as a weight or a coating thickness loss after a given number of cycles.  Each arm, by default, is loaded to apply a 250 g. pressure on each wheel.  Depending on the product/specification used, this weight can be increased to 500g or 1000g.  The abrading wheels are available in different grit for a more or less abrasive action.

If you have any questions about the Taber Abrasion, contact us.