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1 Products availableWe offer a complete product range of TriboChemist, Slurry Jet Erosion Tester, Pensky-Martens Flash Point Tester, Noack Evaporation Loss Tester and Pour Point Tester
Lubrication science has greatly improved energy efficiency, health and personal care. Lubricants are mainly categorized by their ability to prevent wear and reduce friction in a variety of test conditions. Manufacturers of lubricants use increasingly complex additives to lubricants to optimize performance. However, in order to effectively tailor lubricants to specific applications and produce designer lubricants, one must understand the fundamentals of how molecules in a lubricant interact with surfaces and more importantly, change when subjected to mechanical shear. It is important to understand these parameters and how they influence friction.
In many cases, the change in molecules when subjected to tribological tests are reversible and therefore undetected by traditional test methods. With the use of an innovative tool like the Ducom TriboChemist, researchers can now access in-situ data from a test to characterize chemical and tribological behavior of a lubricant.
The Ducom TriboChemist combines an Infrared Spectrometer with Attenuated Total Reflection (ATR) crystal and a specially developed Linear Reciprocating Tribometer (LRT). This integrated system includes a friction sensing module for acquiring the tribological component of tests conducted on the TriboChemist.
The system can house a cylinder, pin or a ball as the moving (upper) specimen which is pressed against an ATR crystal surface to produce a point, line or an area contact. Users can program the TriboChemist to customize tests by configuring stroke length (displacement), sliding speed, test load (contact pressure), and duration of test. Temperature and humidity control are also possible.
Erosion leads to loss of life of components in machinery and pipeline which handle slurry. In order to maximize life, proper selection of materials used is required. Slurry Jet Erosion Tester facilitates identification of best material under given operating conditions. Rate of wear determined experimentally can be used to predict service life and life cycle cost.
A water jet with erodent impinges upon sample under test. Test variables are:
Loss of weight of the sample after test is determined. It is converted to volume loss for comparative ranking of various materials.
The FPM provides accurate and secure flash point testing for users seeking to characterize the volatility and flammability of biodiesel fuels, lubricating oils and petroleum products.
Key Features:
Oil evaporation loss, especially as it pertains to engine lubricants, can have an adverse effect on the quality and lubricating performance of certain motor oils. The Noack test is used to determine the evaporation loss of lubricating oils at high temperatures. Test results will help to quantify and assess the potential performance and sustainability of motor oils under extreme temperature conditions.
The NEA is an advanced, state of the art evaporation loss tester. It features a newly-designed aluminum block and a powerful vacuum pump, for improved performance and durability.
Key Features:
Ducoms DPP offers precise, fully-automated pour point testing of crude oils, engine oils, additives, lubricating oils and other petroleum products.
The DPP features an automated, mechanical arm that lifts and tilts the test jar with incredible accuracy. It is also equipped with Ducoms innovative software system, which can manage up to six analytical heads with ease and delivers customizable reports and graphs at the touch of a button.
Key Features:
| Measuring Parameters | • Temperature: °C/°F • Measuring Range: +80°C to -80°C • Resolution: 0.06°C • Accuracy: ±0.1°C • Repeatability/Reproducibility: as per standard methods or better |
| Temperature Measurement | • PT100 Class A |
| Electrical Supply | • 220V ± 15% / 50 to 60 Hz • 115V ± 15% / 60 Hz |
| Measuring Pour Point Devices | • Mechanical arm adjusts the position of the test jar |
| Cooling System | • Integrated CFC-free motor compressors: - Single stage (for temperatures up to -40°C / 1) - Double stage (for temperatures up to -80°C / 2) • Equipped with an automatic energy power save system |
| Safety Devices | • Pressure controller for compressor • Thermo-switch for each cooling/heating jacket • Compressors equipped with internal overload devices |
| Dimensions (LxWxH) and Weight | • 1 test position: 66 x 60 x 80 cm, 60 kg (up to 6 heads available) |
The Ducom Journal Bearing Tester (Basic) is designed to demonstrate and study pressure distribution behavior of lubricants in journal bearings.
The system consists of a vertically mounted journal driven by a variable speed motor. The load is applied radially to the bearing with a loaded lever. Journal bearing assembly is immersed in lubricant. An electronic sensor measures the oil film pressure. The angular position of the pressure senor with respect to the load line is varied and pressure is recorded.
Pressure is plotted as a function of angular position of Cartesian or polar form to demonstrate the pressure distribution. Test variables are journal speed, radial load and lubricant viscosity.
The Four Ball Tester is an excellent development and quality check instrument for developers and users of lubricants and additives. The unique sample configuration of three bottom balls and one top ball makes a very stable and a repeatable contact in-turn, allowing tests results to be very repeatable.
The Four Ball Tester can be used to determine Wear Preventive properties (WP), Extreme Pressure properties (EP) and friction behavior of lubricants. The wide acceptance of test results of the Four Ball Tester make it an excellent choice to benchmark products. It is a good choice for R&D due to its relatively inexpensive samples and ability to produce quick and repeatable results.
A rotating steel ball is pressed against three steel balls firmly held together and immersed in lubricant under test. The test load, duration, temperature and rotational speed are set in accordance with standard test schedule. In Wear Preventive (WP) tests also called Anti Wear (AW) tests the average scar diameter on the bottom three balls is reported. The size of the scar shows the ability of the lubricant to prevent wear. A larger diameter indicates poor wear preventive property while a smaller indicates superior wear preventive property.
In Extreme Pressure (EP) tests the lubricant is subjected to load that is increased in specified steps after every run. This increase in loading is continued till a load is reached where the lubricant fails. The failure of lubricant is indicated by welding of the bottom three balls to the top ball. The load at which welding occurs is the index of extreme pressure property of the lubricant.
The Pin and Vee Block Tester can be used to test a variety of test materials for their tribological properties. It is used for testing both dry lubricants as well as fluids like lubricating oils and metalworking fluids. It is also useful for testing materials and coatings that need to be tester for their wear and friction performance.
The system measures frictional torque and , and the maximum pressure it will withstand before the lubricating properties fail. This work can be performed at various temperatures. It operates by having a small, rotating, cylindrical pin squeezed between two metal arms with vee-notched blocks attached. The testing can be performed immersed in oil which is being heated to a desired temperature. It is also suitable for testing dry film bonded lubricants and additive packages.
This test instrument consists of rotating pin (journal) pressed between two stationary steel V-blocks. Load is applied to the V blocks by a ratchet mechanism. Ramping of load during extreme pressure testing is made possible by auto advancement mechanism of rachet. When testing tribological properties in fluid lubricants, the Pin and Vee blocks are immersed in lubricant fluid under test in a heated test cup.
Wear is determined as the number of teeth of the ratchet mechanism advanced to maintain load constant during the prescribed testing time. Torque load diagram shows extreme pressure behavior of lubricants. Load at which the shear pin breaks or inability of ratchet mechanism to take up load automatically is defined as failure load.
Endurance (wear) life test of the film lubrication is measured by the length of time taken for torque to increased by specified value.
The Timken O.K. Load Tester is a lubricant oil/grease testing instrument based on the machine produced by the Timken Company from 1935 to 1972, which originally was used to evaluate the load carrying capacity of lubricants. It is a quick and reliable test that can evaluate fundamental properties involved the research, development, and quality of lubricants.
This instrument is especially useful for Research & Development and Quality Assurance activities. Samples are easily available and can be set up quickly, making it a good choice for lubricant and EP additive evaluation and qualification, O.K. Load quantification, EP protection, Wear Prevention (WP), and frictional characteristics.
The O.K. Load Tester uses a steel bearing race which is pressed against a steel test block creating a line contact which is representative of many tribological contacts en- countered in real life applications. The bearing race is attached to a spindle which rotates the race while the test block is pressed against it. A reservoir for lubricant oil rests below the bearing race. If using grease, there is a system that feeds the grease into the contact area.
The test load is then increased until the film between the bearing race and the block is broken. The maximum load before scoring occurs is reported as the O.K. Load. The minimum load applied required to cause scoring is reported as the Score Load. The O.K. Load is essentially used to measure the ability of a lubricant to protect under EP as well as boundary lubrication conditions.
The Reichert tester is an excellent tool for lubricant and additive manufacturers to evaluate the wear preventive (WP) and extreme pressure (EP) properties of their samples. This test was developed as a quick method to identify the formation of a lubricating film between two test surfaces. The Reichert Tester uses a drop in noise level (screeching) to identify when a lubricating film is successfully formed between the test surfaces.
Traditionally, this tester was shut off when a perceivable reduction in noise was observed. This required trained and an experienced operators to run tests with accuracy. As a result of this operator dependency there was often a variance in the observed test results. This problem was addressed by Ducom by incorporating instrumentation to monitor and log noise level, therefore reducing operator dependency.
The Reichert Tester sees significant utilization by lubricant and additive manufacturers to evaluate and rank their products quickly in their development / product formulation phase. It is also very useful for additive depletion studies and lubricant selection for metallurgy. This tester also sees use as an effective tool to determine lubricant quality while in use in machinery. Its requirement for a small sample volume allows maintenance staff to withdraw small lubricant samples from machinery and run a quick test to determine if it is time to replace the lubricant. This tester is capable of testing both, lubricating oils and greases.
Lubricants are often subjected to mechanical shearing, for example in automotive engines. This shearing causes lubricants to lose their viscosity. When subjected to sufficiently large number of cycles of shear, viscosity may drop below acceptable levels and may call of replacement failing which surfaces may become prone to higher wear. Even lubricants that have consistent viscosity through a wide temperature range (high viscosity index) may still be susceptible to loss of viscosity when subjected the mechanical shearing.
Shear Stability Tester is an instrument used to determine an oils ability to retain its viscosity over a number of cycles of shear. The test oil is first measured for its initial viscosity after which it is subjected to shearing in intervals of 30 cycles. Viscosity is measured and compared to the oils initial viscosity following 30, 90 and 120 cycles. Oils that show a lower drop in viscosity over the duration of test are said to have better shear stability than oils that exhibit a relatively higher drop in viscosity.
Floor standing designIncluded safety enclosure
Recirculating chiller (if no water line is available)
The Ducom High Temperature Grease Tester is an excellent tool to determine the life of lubricating greases designed for operation at elevated temperatures.
The grease under test is filled in a bearing as specified by the ASTM D3336 and mounted on a spindle. The bearing is located in the elevated temperature chamber that is used to heat the test grease to the desired temperature and maintain the temperature during the test.
The test applies relatively light load and runs the bearing at high speeds. This determines the ability of a grease to provide lubrication to the arrangement at elevated temperatures over extended periods of time.
The signals from sensors are processed and transmitted to a computer. Here, test information is recorded and presented for analysis. The user-friendly software WinDucom for control and acquisition works on any Windows based PC. The software has three distinct sections, one for programming and setting up tests, second for acquiring and displaying real-time test data and the third is the CompariView mode, used to compare results of up to four tests.
Computer controlled operation with software license included.Capability to attach multiple systems to a single software interface. (Optional)
The Low temperature torque tester is designed to determine starting (break away) torque and running of greases at sub zero temperatures. The test system is used to evaluate the tendency of various greases to offer resistance to the rotation of bearing at low temperatures (sub zero). Low temperature torque tests are of prime importance for aviation applications where equipment is required to perform without glitches in sub zero environments.
The test system consists of a test area where a bearing, with the grease under test is setup. When the test samples attain the desired temperature, the test commences.
The Ducom Low Temperature Torque Tester comes with the WinDucom software for data acquisition and display of results. This system can record torque. WinDucom software is used to present data in a variety of ways and CompariView provides a powerful tool to view and compare test results for evaluation.
Material removal or surface modification of components influence the ability of a system to perform its intended function. Studies show that systems and components lose their utility due to various causes. Obsolescence accounts for roughly 15%, breakage of components accounts for another 15%. Surface deterioration is responsible for an astounding 70% of components losing utility. Surface deterioration is further classified into wear and corrosion, responsible for 55% and 15% respectively.
Abrasive wear contributes significantly to losses attributed to wear. Selection of materials that are best suited to endure operation in a given scenario is an excellent way to cut costs related to repairs and replacement. The associated downtime related to such maintenance operations also adds considerable costs. The Ducom Abrasion Tester allows users to test materials for their abrasion resistance properties in accordance with applicable standards. This test system is capable of testing materials in dry abrasive environments (ASTM G65 ).
This system is suitable for evaluations in applications such as mining, drilling, ore transportation, agriculture, earth moving and others. Evaluation of materials and coatings using the Ducom Abrasion Tester can provide valuable R&D data, bench-marking of products and reliable data for marketing.
The Slurry Abrasion Tester is designed such that a flat test sample is pressed radially against a wheel with a known force. The test area is submerged in wet abrasive media (slurry). The arrangement is such that the wheel carries the abrasive media between the sample and the wheel creating a scenario of three body wear using the slurry in the chamber.
This tester allows users to test under a variety of loads, flow rates and types of abrasive media. Loss of weight of test samples indicates wear resistance.
Erosive wear is caused by the impact of particles air jet impinging on a solid surface. Erosion leads to loss of life of components in aerospace, gas turbines, boilers and power plants. In order to maximize life, proper selection of materials used in such applications is required.
The Ducom Gas Jet Erosion Tester facilitates determination of wear rate under wide range of conditions. Wear rate can be used to identify the best material under given operating conditions. It can also be used to predict service life and life cycle costs.
Erosive wear is caused by the impact of particles air jet impinging on a solid surface. Erosion leads to loss of life of components in aerospace, gas turbines, boilers and power plants. In order to maximize life, proper selection of materials used in such applications is required.
The Ducom Gas Jet Erosion Tester facilitates determination of wear rate under wide range of conditions. Wear rate can be used to identify the best material under given operating conditions. It can also be used to predict service life and life cycle costs.
A rectangular sample under evaluation is made to rotate in a slurry cup. The sample is weighed before and after the test to determine loss of mass due to slurry erosion. Volume loss is computed for comparison, due to difference in densities of materials. Index of erosion is reported as loss of volume.
The test rig permits running up to 6 test samples at the same time and same speed. Slurry cups are immersed in water bath to maintain slurry temperature. Test duration can be preset with timer.
Roller element bearings are anti-friction bearings used to reduce wear and friction in high axial and radial load applications. The life of an individual rolling bearing is defined as the number of revolutions bearing endures before the first sign of fatigue (flaking, spalling) occurs on one of its rings or rolling elements. Purpose of this test rig is to determine life by varying the speed, axial load, radial load and lubricating conditions.
Four identical bearings are mounted on a shaft. Axial and radial loads are applied when bearings are running. Failure of a bearing is sensed by abnormal increase of either vibration or temperature. At this point, the rig stops. Number of revolutions to fail is recorded. This data is used in Weibull failure analysis to determine fatigue life L10. This is the life which 90% of the bearings in a sufficiently large group can be expected to attain or exceed.
Change in mechanical properties of materials during service reveals health and integrity of components. In case of critical component in service, it is not always possible to extract standard test specimen for laboratory test. In this situation, in-situ nondestructive testing on in service components is required and the Ducom Automated Macro Indentation Tester is the instrument of choice in such cases. TheAutomated Macro Indentation Tester (AMIT)is designed and manufactured exclusively by Ducom Instruments and is distributed solely by a network of Ducoms authorized distributors.
The Automated Macro Indentation Tester works on recording of load-displacement characteristic of a ball indenter during loading and unloading of sample under test. This information with inputs like material data, Meyers constant and correction factors is processed to estimate following properties:
An indenter of desired ball radius can be selected depending on nature of material. When the test site is rough or covered with deposits, rust or paint, the target area can be cleaned before test with a grinder attachment. The Automated Macro Indentation Tester (AMIT) is software controlled.
There is a growing trend towards the use of modified surfaces for improved performance and life of components. Modifications are invariably in the form of coatings on base material. They are deposited by electroplating, vapor phase deposition, diffusion, thermal spray or welding. Coatings need to be characterized for parameters like scratch resistance, critical load, adhesion and nature of damage under high stress. The Scratch Tester by Ducom facilitates these measurements over a wide range of parameters.
Applications
There are roughly one million hip joint and quarter million knee joint replacements every year. With an increasingly aging population around the world, these numbers are only going to increase and therefore, requirements for artificial hip and knee joints will also increase. Because of this demographic change, the challenge of an absolute reduction in wear and tear of artificial joints with minimal or no revised surgery has become more critical than ever.
Currently available structural and lubricating materials are unable to reproduce low friction and wear response as observed in naturally occurring joints and lubricants. As a result, some structural biomaterials like UHMWPE or CoCrMo last for 10-12 years (average) whereas the natural joints can last for 60-70 years. There is an increasing need of novel materials to increase life span of the artificial joints. To promote such an environment there is a requirement for rapid testing (friction and wear) of biomaterials in accordance with and beyond the standards, and the BioTribometer serves this role with full compliance with ASTM and ISO standards.
The Ducom BioTribometer is widely used for tribological investigation of materials replacing naturally occurring interfaces in joints. Artificial materials can be classified into (1) alloys, composites and ceramics used as structural materials, and (2) synthetic hyaluronic acid and polymer based gels used as boundary and fluid film lubricant materials.
Structural materials like UHMWPE, Al2O3, Polycarbonate urethanes (PCU), Ti-6Al-4V are used to replace acetabular cup, femur head, meniscus and tibia (epiphysis), respectively. Lubricant materials like hydrogels based phospholipids and animal derived hyaluronic acids are used as injectable lubricant supplements for knee and hip joints.
Development of artificial materials is driven towards performance that is similar to, or better than healthy and natural joints with respect to friction and wear response. Friction and wear performance of these materials can be investigated using standard test methods such as ASTM F732 and ISO 14242, that prescribe motion, load and speed profiles that are relevant to kinematics of hip joints. The Ducom BioTribometer complies with these ASTM and ISO standards.
The Ducom BioTribometer has capabilities that extend beyond the scope of standards. This leaves great potential for design of test methods for material characterization as well as compliance with future standards.
Not available for all configurations* With appropriate optional equipment selected
Peenya, Bangalore, Karnataka 