Selection of an Optimal Abrasion Wheel Type for Nano-Coating Wear Studies under Wet or Dry Abrasion Conditions

Published

July 24, 2020

Author(s)

Li Piin Sung, Hsiang C. Hsueh, Elijah Petersen, Tinh Nguyen, Treye Thomas

Abstract

Nanocoatings have numerous potential applications in the indoor environment, such as flooring finishes with increased scratch- and wear-resistance. However, given concerns about the potential environmental and human health effects of nanomaterials, it is necessary to develop standardized methods to quantify nanomaterial release during use of these products. One key choice for mechanical wear studies is the abrasion wheel. Potential limitations of different wheels include the release of fragments from the wheel during abrasion, wearing of the wheel from the abrasion process, or not releasing a sufficient number of particles for accurate quantitative analysis. In this study, we evaluated five different wheels, including a typically used silicon oxide-based commercial wheel and four wheels fabricated at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), for their application in nanocoating abrasion studies. A rapid, nondestructive laser scanning confocal microscopy method was developed and used to identify released particles on the abraded surfaces. NIST fabricated a high performing wheel: a noncorrosive, stainless-steel abrasion wheel containing a deep cross-patch. This wheel worked well under both wet and dry conditions, did not corrode in aqueous media, did not release particles from itself, and yielded higher numbers of released particles. These results can be used to help develop a standardized protocol for surface release of particles from nanoenabled products using a commercial rotary Taber abraser.

Citation

Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry

Pub Type

Journals

Download Paper

https://doi.org/10.3390/nano10081445

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Keywords

Abrasion, AFM, LSCM, SEM-EDS, nanocoatings, nanoparticle release, SEM-EDS, surface morphology

Citation

Sung, L. , Hsueh, H. , Petersen, E. , Nguyen, T. and Thomas, T. (2020), Selection of an Optimal Abrasion Wheel Type for Nano-Coating Wear Studies under Wet or Dry Abrasion Conditions, Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry, [online], https://doi.org/10.3390/nano10081445, https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=920760 (Accessed October 8, 2025)