Ultra high temperature linear reciprocating tribometer

As demand for more power increases, compression ratios and operating temperatures keep rising. High speeds combined with high temperatures make turbomachinery sealing applications even more challenging. Friction and wear performance of engine seal components is directly related to service life, output power and overall efficiency. In order to confirm sufficient service life, material pairs should be tested under conditions similar to engine operating conditions. High temperature tribo-testing is difficult, and typically conducted by heating samples locally. Testing under simulated engine conditions gives researchers a chance to compare different candidates for specific applications. This work presents a custom designed high temperature linear reciprocating wear set up. While most systems remain limited to 800 C, the presented system is capable of test temperatures up to 1250 C due to its simple design that allows use of commercially available high temperature ovens. The presented system is capable of operating at 1Hz speed with 25 mm stroke.