Development of a High-Temperature-Steam Fretting Wear Test Apparatus Available to Purchase

Modern power generation technology requires the development and use of advanced materials to withstand aggressive environments. Candidate materials must be durable and provide resistance to fretting wear damage; this includes both coatings and the base materials used in the machinery. A prototypical, multi-specimen test apparatus was developed for use in this fretting wear test (FWT) program. The FWT apparatus was designed to generate and contain steam at temperatures up to 595 °C (1100 °F). Contact stresses over 3.45 MPa (500 psi), displacements of 0.1 mm (4 mil), and a frequency of 160 Hz are possible using this test machine.