CEN/TC 184 - Advanced technical ceramics

This document specifies a method for the qualitative evaluation of the adhesion of ceramic coatings up to 20 μm thick by indentation with a Rockwell diamond indenter. The formation of cracks after indentation can also reveal cohesive failure. The indentations are made with a Rockwell hardness test instrument.
The method described in this document can also be suitable for evaluating the adhesion of metallic coatings.
The test is not suitable for elastic coatings on hard substrates.

This document specifies the test method for the determination of thermal diffusivity from room temperature to at least 1 700 K by the flash method for homogeneous monolithic ceramics with porosity less than 10 %.
Flash methods, like laser flash, are applicable to homogeneous isotropic materials with thermal diffusivity values ranging from 0,1 to 1 000 mm2 s-1 within the temperature range from approximately 100 K to 2 300 K.
The method described in Annex G describes how to estimate, on the basis of the thermal diffusivity test, the specific heat capacity and the thermal conductivity of homogeneous monolithic ceramics with porosity less than 10 %.

This document specifies methods for the chemical analysis of zirconium oxide powders used as the raw material for fine ceramics.
It stipulates the determination methods of the zirconium, aluminium, barium, calcium, cerium, cobalt, gadolinium, hafnium, iron, magnesium, potassium, silicon, sodium, strontium, titanium and yttrium contents in zirconium oxide powders for fine ceramics. The test sample is decomposed by acid pressure decomposition or alkali fusion. Contents of zirconium and yttrium are determined by using either a precipitation and gravimetric method or an inductively coupled plasma–optical emission spectrometry (ICP–OES) method. Contents of aluminium, barium, calcium, cerium, cobalt, gadolinium, hafnium, iron, magnesium, potassium, silicon, sodium, strontium and titanium are determined by using an ICP–OES method.

This document specifies the methods for the chemical analysis of fine silicon nitride powders used as the raw material for fine ceramics. It stipulates the determination methods of total silicon, total nitrogen, aluminium, iron, calcium, oxygen, carbon, fluorine, and chlorine in fine silicon nitride powders.

ISO 20509:2003 describes the method of test for determining the oxidation resistance of non-oxide monolithic ceramics, such as silicon nitride, sialon and silicon carbide at high temperatures. This International Standard is designed to provide an assessment of the mass and dimensional changes of test pieces following oxidation at high temperature in an oxidizing atmosphere, and to assess whether oxidation has a significant effect on the subsequent strength. This test method may be used for materials development, quality control, characterization, and design data generation purposes.

ISO 17092:2005 describes the test method for determining the corrosion resistance of fine ceramics in acid and alkaline solutions, such as sulfuric acid and sodium hydroxide. This International Standard is designed to provide an assessment of the mass changes and dimensional changes of test specimens following the corrosion test immersed in the corrosive liquids, and to assess whether corrosion has a significant effect on the subsequent strength. This test method may be used for development of materials, quality control, characterization, and design-data generation purposes.

ISO 24370:2005 specifies a test method for determining the fracture toughness of monolithic ceramic materials at room temperature by the chevron-notched beam (CNB) method.
ISO 24370:2005 is applicable to monolithic ceramics and whisker- or particulate-reinforced ceramics that are regarded as macroscopically homogeneous. It is not applicable to continuous-fibre reinforced ceramic composites.
ISO 24370:2005 is usually applicable to ceramic materials with a fracture toughness less than about 12 megapascal(square root metre). The test method is applicable to materials with a flat crack-growth resistance curve and may be applicable to materials with a rising crack-growth resistance curve (R-curve).

This document covers the reporting of uniaxial strength data and the estimation of probability distribution parameters for advanced ceramics which fail in a brittle fashion. The failure strength of advanced ceramics is treated as a continuous random variable. Typically, a number of test specimens with well-defined geometry are brought to failure under well-defined isothermal loading conditions. The load at which each specimen fails is recorded. The resulting failure stresses are used to obtain parameter estimates associated with the underlying population distribution.
This document is restricted to the assumption that the distribution underlying the failure strengths is the two-parameter Weibull distribution with size scaling. Furthermore, this document is restricted to test specimens (tensile, flexural, pressurized ring, etc.) that are primarily subjected to uniaxial stress states. Subclauses 6.4 and 6.5 outline methods of correcting for bias errors in the estimated Weibull parameters, and to calculate confidence bounds on those estimates from data sets where all failures originate from a single flaw population (i.e. a single failure mode). In samples where failures originate from multiple independent flaw populations (e.g. competing failure modes), the methods outlined in 6.4 and 6.5 for bias correction and confidence bounds are not applicable.

This document describes procedures for determination of the compressive behaviour of ceramic matrix composite materials with continuous fibre reinforcement at room temperature. This method applies to all ceramic matrix composites with a continuous fibre reinforcement, uni-directional (1D), bi-directional (2D) and tri-directional (xD, with 2 < x < 3), tested along one principal axis of reinforcement or off axis conditions. This method also applies to carbon-fibre-reinforced carbon matrix composites (also known as carbon/carbon or C/C). Two cases of testing are distinguished: compression between platens and compression using grips.

This document specifies methods for the chemical analysis of fine aluminium nitride powders used as the raw material for fine ceramics.
This document stipulates the determination methods of the aluminium, total nitrogen, boron, calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, molybdenum, nickel, potassium, silicon, sodium, titanium, tungsten, vanadium, zinc, zirconium, carbon, chlorine, fluorine, and oxygen contents in aluminium nitride powders. The aluminium content is determined by using either an acid pressure decomposition-CyDTA-zinc back titration method or an acid digestion-inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) method. The total nitrogen content is determined by using an acid pressure decomposition-distillation separation-acidimetric titration method, a direct decomposition-distillation separation-acidimetric titration method, or an inert gas fusion-thermal conductivity method. The boron, calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, molybdenum, nickel, potassium, silicon, sodium, titanium, tungsten, vanadium and zinc contents are determined by using an acid digestion-ICP-OES method or an acid pressure decomposition-ICP-OES method. The sodium and potassium contents are determined via an acid pressure decomposition-flame emission method or an acid pressure decomposition-atomic absorption spectrometry method. The oxygen content is determined by using an inert gas fusion-IR absorption spectrometry method, while that of carbon is determined via a combustion-IR absorption spectrometry method or a combustion-conductometry method. The chlorine and fluorine contents are determined by using a pyrohydrolysation method followed by ion chromatography or spectrophotometry.

This document specifies the test method to determine the extent to which ceramic powder compacts made of granulated or ungranulated ceramic powders are densified, when they are sintered at a high temperature without the application of any external pressure or external densification force. The test method is applicable to pure oxides, mixtures of oxides and solid solutions, and is also applicable to non-oxides (e.g. carbides, nitrides) that can be sintered under vacuum or constant gas pressure (1 bar or less) to prevent oxidation or decomposition. The test method is not applicable to ceramics that can only be sintered using pressure-assisted sintering techniques such as hot pressing (HP), hot isostatic pressing (HIP), gas pressure sintering (GPS) or spark plasma sintering (SPS). Inorganic sintering additives can be used where their presence is reported.

ISO 21813 specifies methods for the chemical analysis of fine high purity barium titanate powders used as the raw material for fine ceramics.
ISO 21813 stipulates the determination methods of the barium, titanium, aluminium, cadmium, calcium, cobalt, dysprosium, iron, lead, magnesium, manganese, nickel, niobium, potassium, silicon, sodium, strontium, vanadium, zirconium, carbon, oxygen and nitrogen contents in high purity barium titanate powders. The barium and titanium contents, the major elements, are determined by using an acid decomposition-gravimetric method or an acid decomposition-inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) method. The aluminium, cadmium, calcium, chromium, cobalt, dysprosium, iron, lead, magnesium, manganese, nickel, niobium, potassium, silicon, strontium, vanadium and zirconium contents are simultaneously determined via an acid digestion-ICP-OES method. The nitrogen content is determined by using an inert gas fusion-thermal conductivity method, while that of oxygen is determined via an inert gas fusion-IR absorption spectrometry method. Finally, the carbon content is determined using a combustion-IR absorption spectrometry method or a combustion-conductometry method.

This document specifies the conditions for the determination of the distribution of strength and rupture strain of ceramic filaments within a multifilament tow at room temperature by performing a tensile test on a multifilament tow.
This document applies to dry tows of continuous ceramic filaments that are assumed to act freely and independently under loading and exhibit linear elastic behaviour up to failure. The outputs of this method are not to be mixed up with the strengths of embedded tows determined by using ISO 24046[1].
[1] Under preparation.

This document specifies methods for the determination of the apparent solid density, bulk density, apparent porosity and geometric bulk density of fine ceramics, including all ceramic matrix composites.
Two methods are described and are designated as Methods A and B, as follows:
—     Method A: Determination of bulk density, apparent solid density and apparent porosity by liquid displacement (Archimedes' method).
NOTE 1  This method is not appropriate for the determination of an apparent porosity greater than 10 %. For materials with higher porosity, the accuracy of the measurement might not be satisfactory. This method might also not give a satisfactory open porosity result if it is less than 0,5 %.
NOTE 2  This method is also not suitable for materials which are known to have an average pore size of greater than 600 µm.
—     Method B: Determination of bulk density only, by measurement of geometric dimensions and mass.

This document describes the flash method for the determination of thermal diffusivity of ceramic matrix composites with continuous fibre reinforcement.
In order to conform with the unidimensional heat transfer hypothesis, the experimental conditions are defined such that the material behaves in a homogeneous manner. This involves performing tests in one symmetry axis of the composite.
The method is applicable to materials which are physically and chemically stable during the measurement, and covers the range of temperature from 100 K to 2 800 K. It is suitable for the measurement of thermal diffusivity values in the range 10−4 m2∙s−1 to 10−7 m2∙s−1.

ISO 17139:2014 describes methods for the determination of linear thermal expansion characteristics of ceramic matrix composite materials up to 2 300 K, and is applicable to 1D, 2D, and nD materials. The method describes general principles of construction, calibration, and operation of the equipment.

ISO 18608:2017 describes a method for the classification of ceramic matrix composite (CMC) materials with respect to their sensitivity to crack propagation using tensile tests on notched specimens with different notch depths. Two classes of ceramic matrix composite materials can be distinguished: materials whose strength is sensitive to the presence of notches and materials whose strength is not affected. For sensitive materials, this document defines a method for determining equivalent fracture toughness.
The parameter, Keq, is defined as the fracture toughness of a homogeneous material which presents the same sensitivity to crack propagation as the ceramic matrix composite material which is being considered. The definition of the Keq parameter offers the possibility to compare ceramic matrix composite materials with other materials with respect to sensitivity to crack propagation.
For notch insensitive materials, the concept of Keq does not apply.
ISO 18608:2017 applies to all ceramic matrix composites with a continuous fibre reinforcement, unidirectional (1 D), bidirectional (2 D), and tridirectional (x D, where 2 < x ≤ 3), loaded along one principal axis of reinforcement.

ISO 17138:2014 describes a method for the determination of the flexural strength of ceramic matrix composite materials with continuous fibre reinforcement, under three-point or four-point bend at room temperature. This method applies to all ceramic matrix composites with a continuous fibre reinforcement, unidirectional (1D), bidirectional (2D), and tridirectional xD with (2 < x ≤ 3) as defined in CEN/TR 13233, loaded along one principal axis of reinforcement.

ISO 19634:2017 defines the symbols to be used to represent physical, mechanical and thermal characteristics, as determined by methods described in relevant ISO publications, for ceramic matrix composites. It is aimed at avoiding confusion in reporting measurements and characteristics of products.
Where possible, the definitions are in accordance with the relevant parts of ISO 80000. In addition, the symbols used in undertaking measurements of these characteristics are also defined.

ISO 20323:2018 specifies the conditions for the determination of tensile properties of ceramic matrix composite tubes with continuous fibre-reinforcement at ambient temperature in air atmospheric pressure. This document is specific to the tubular geometries since fibre architecture and specimen geometry factors are distinctly different in composite tubes than in flat specimens.
ISO 20323:2018 provides information on the uniaxial tensile properties and tensile stress-strain response such as tensile strength and strain, tensile elastic modulus and Poisson's ratio. The information may be used for material development, control of manufacturing (quality insurance), material comparison, characterization, reliability and design data generation for tubular components.
ISO 20323:2018 addresses, but is not restricted to, various suggested test piece fabrication methods. It applies primarily to ceramic and/or glass matrix composite tubes with a continuous fibrous-reinforcement: unidirectional (1D filament winding and tape lay-up), bi-directional (2D braid and weave) and tri-directional (xD, with 2 < x < 3), loaded along the tube axis.
Values expressed in this document are in accordance with the International System of Units (SI).
NOTE       In most cases, ceramic matrix composites to be used at high temperature in air are coated with an antioxidation coating.

ISO 19630:2017 specifies the conditions for the determination of tensile properties of single filaments of ceramic fibre such as tensile strength, Young modulus and fracture strain. The method applies to continuous ceramic filaments taken from tows, yarns, braids and knittings, which have strain to fracture less than or equal to 5 %.
The method does not apply to carbon fibres that exhibit nonlinear stress-strain curve. The method does not apply to checking the homogeneity of strength properties of fibres, nor to assessing the effects of volume under stress. Statistical aspects of filament failure are not included.

ISO 17562:2016 specifies a method for the determination of the linear thermal expansion and the linear thermal expansion coefficient of monolithic ceramics from near liquid nitrogen temperature up to a maximum temperature of 2 000 °C.

ISO 19628:2017 describes two methods for the determination of the specific heat capacity of ceramic matrix composites with continuous reinforcements (1D, 2D, 3D).
Unidirectional (1D), bi-directional (2D) and tridirectional (XD, with 2 < x ≤ 3).
The two methods are:
-      method A: drop calorimetry;
-      method B: differential scanning calorimetry.
They are applicable from ambient temperature up to a maximum temperature, depending on the method: method A can be used up to 2 250 K, while method B is limited to 1 900 K.
NOTE          Method A is limited to the determination of an average value of the specific heat capacity over a given temperature range and can give a larger spread of results.

ISO 17172:2014 specifies the test method for determining the extent to which granulated or ungranulated ceramic powders are compacted, when subjected to uniaxial compressive loading in a confining die, under specified conditions.

ISO 14705:2016 specifies a test method for determining the Vickers and Knoop hardness of monolithic fine ceramics at room temperature.

ISO 18610:2016 specifies an ultrasonic method to determine the components of the elasticity tensor of ceramic matrix composite materials at room temperature. Young's moduli shear moduli and Poisson coefficients, can be determined from the components of the elasticity tensor.
It applies to ceramic matrix composites with a continuous fibre reinforcement: unidirectional (1D), bidirectional (2D), and tridirectional (×D, with 2 < × ≤ 3) which have at least orthotropic symmetry, and whose material symmetry axes are known.
This method is applicable only when the ultrasonic wavelength used is larger than the thickness of the representative elementary volume, thus imposing an upper limit to the frequency range of the transducers used.

ISO 18753:2017 specifies a method for determining the absolute particle density of fine ceramic powders or sintered parts using liquid pycnometry.
NOTE          Other pycnometer methods like gas pycnometers (e.g. helium pycnometer), where a gas is used as media, also exist.

ISO 14629:2012 specifies a test method to determine the flowability of granulated or ungranulated ceramic powders by means of a specified funnel. The method is applicable only to powders which flow freely through the specified test orifice.

ISO 13383-1:2012 describes manual methods of making measurements for the determination of grain size of fine ceramics (advanced ceramics, advanced technical ceramics) using photomicrographs of polished and etched test pieces. The methods described in ISO 13383-1:2012 do not yield the true mean grain diameter, but a somewhat smaller parameter depending on the method applied to analyse a two-dimensional section. The relationship to true grain dimensions depends on the grain shape and the degree of microstructural anisotropy. ISO 13383-1:2012 contains two principal methods, A and B.
Method A is the mean linear intercept technique. Method A1 applies to single-phase ceramics, and to ceramics with a principal crystalline phase and a glassy grain-boundary phase of less than about 5 % by volume for which intercept counting suffices. Method A2 applies to ceramics with more than about 5 % by volume of pores or secondary phases, or ceramics with more than one major crystalline phase where individual intercept lengths are measured, which can optionally be used to create a size distribution. This latter method allows the pores or phases to be distinguished and the mean linear intercept size for each to be calculated separately.
Method B is the mean equivalent circle diameter method, which applies to any type of ceramic with or without a secondary phase. This method may also be employed for determining grain aspect ratio and a size distribution.

ISO 13383-2:2012 specifies a manual method of making measurements for the determination of the volume fraction of major phases in fine ceramics (advanced ceramics, advanced technical ceramics) using micrographs of polished and etched sections, overlaying a square grid of lines, and counting the number of intersections lying over each phase.
The method applies to ceramics with one or more distinct secondary phases, such as found in Al2O3/ZrO2, Si/SiC, or Al2O3/SiCw.
If the test material contains discrete pores, these are to be treated as a secondary phase for the purpose of this method, provided that there is no evidence of grain pluck-out during polishing being confused with genuine pores.

ISO 23146:2012 specifies a method for the determination of the fracture toughness of advanced technical ceramics. The procedure makes use of single-edge V-notched bars, which are loaded in four-point bending until failure. It is applicable to monolithic ceramics with a grain size or major microstructural feature size larger than about 1 µm.
The use of ISO 23146:2012 for yttria tetragonal zirconia polycrystal material (Y-TZP) is not recommended. The method might also be unsuitable for some other very tough or soft ceramics in which a sharp crack does not form at the root of the V-notch.

ISO 14544:2013 specifies the conditions for determination of compression properties of ceramic matrix composite materials with continuous fibre reinforcement for temperatures up to 2 000 °C.
ISO 14544:2013 applies to all ceramic matrix composites with a continuous fibre reinforcement, unidirectional (1D), bidirectional (2D), and tridirectional (xD, with 2 < x ≤ 3), loaded along one principal axis of reinforcement.

ISO 23145-1:2007 specifies a procedure to determine the tap density of granulated or ungranulated ceramic powders by a constant-volume measuring method.

ISO 26424:2008 specifies a method for measuring the abrasive wear rate of ceramic coatings by means of a micro-scale abrasion wear test based on the well-known crater-grinding technique used for coating thickness determination in ISO 26423.
The method can provide data on both coating and substrate wear rates, either by performing two separate tests or by careful analysis of the data from a single test series.
The method can be applied to samples with planar or non-planar surfaces, but the results analysis described in the text applies only to flat samples. For non-planar samples, a more complicated analysis, possibly requiring the use of numerical methods, is required.

ISO 17161:2014 describes a procedure to verify the degree of misalignment of the load train of the test machines using a reference test specimen uniformly loaded in tension or in compression, and to give indications in order to correct defects such as torsion and bending.
ISO 17161:2014 is not intended to provide a quantitative and acceptable limit before the testing of ceramic matrix composites with a fibre reinforcement: unidirectional (1D), bidirectional (2D), and tridirectional (xD, with 2 < x ≤ 3) loaded along one principal axis of reinforcement. This limit depends on the sensitivity of each type of composite to the misalignment defect.

ISO 17140:2014 specifies the conditions for the determination of properties at constant-amplitude of load or strain in uniaxial tension/tension or in uniaxial tension/compression cyclic fatigue of ceramic matrix composite materials (CMCs) with fibre reinforcement at room temperature.
It applies to all ceramic matrix composites with fibre reinforcement, unidirectional (1D), bi-directional (2D), and tri-directional (xD, where 2 < x ≤ 3).

ISO 14604:2012 describes a method of measuring the fracture strain of ceramic coatings by means of uniaxial tension or compression tests coupled with acoustic emission to monitor the onset of cracking of the coating. Tensile or compressive strains can also be applied by flexure using four-point bending. Measurements can be made in favourable cases at elevated temperatures as well as at room temperature.

ISO 26423:2009 specifies a method for the determination of the thickness of ceramic coatings by a crater grinding method, which includes the grinding of a spherical cavity and subsequent microscopic examination of the crater.
Because of the uncertainty introduced into the measurement of crater dimensions, the test is not suitable for use where the surface roughness of the coating and/or substrate exceeds 20 % of the coating thickness.

This part of ISO 23145 specifies the test method to determine the untapped density of granulated or ungranulated ceramic powders by a constant-volume measuring method.

ISO 20502:2005 describes a method of testing ceramic coatings by scratching with a diamond stylus. During a test, either a constant or increasing force normal to the surface under test is applied to the stylus, so as to promote adhesive and/or cohesive failure of the coating-substrate system. The test method is suitable for evaluating ceramic coatings up to a thickness of 20 micrometres and might also be suitable for evaluating other coating types and thicknesses.

ISO 18452:2005 specifies a method for the determination of the film thickness of a fine ceramic film and ceramic coatings by a contact-probe profilometer. The method is suitable for film thicknesses in the range of 10 nm to 10 000 nm.

ISO 14574:2013 specifies the conditions for determination of tensile properties of ceramic matrix composite materials with continuous fibre reinforcement for temperatures up to 2 000 °C.
ISO 14574:2013 applies to all ceramic matrix composites with a continuous fibre reinforcement, unidirectional (1D), bi-directional (2D), and tri-directional (xD, with 2 < x ≤ 3), loaded along one principal axis of reinforcement.

ISO 17142:2014 specifies the conditions for the determination of properties at constant-amplitude of load or strain in uniaxial tension/tension or in uniaxial tension/compression cyclic fatigue of ceramic matrix composite materials (CMCs) with fibre reinforcement for temperature up to 1 700 °C in air at atmospheric pressure.
It applies to all ceramic matrix composites with fibre reinforcement, unidirectional (1D), bi-directional (2D), and tri-directional (xD, where 2 < x ≤ 3).
Its purpose is to determine the behaviour of CMC when subjected to mechanical fatigue and oxidation simultaneously. Tests for the determination of fatigue properties at high temperature in inert atmospheres differ from those in oxidative atmospheres. Contrary to an inert atmosphere, damage in an oxidative atmosphere accumulates due to the influence of purely mechanical fatigue and to chemical effects of the material's oxidation.

This European Standard specifies the conditions for the determination of the tensile creep deformation and failure behaviour of single filaments of ceramic fibres at high temperature and under test conditions that prevent changes to the material as a result of chemical reaction with the test environment.
This European Standard applies to continuous ceramic filaments taken from tows, yarns, braids and knittings, which have strains to fracture less than or equal to 5 %.

This European standard specifies the conditions, apparatus and procedure for determining the distribution of tensile strength and tensile strain to failure of ceramic filaments in multifilament tows at high temperature in air, vacuum or a controlled inert atmosphere.
This part of EN 1007 applies to tows of continuous ceramic filaments, which are assumed to act freely and independently under loading and behave linearly elastic up to failure.
Two methods are proposed depending on the temperature of the ends of the tow:
a)   hot end method;
NOTE 1   The application of the hot end method is restricted by ceramic glues with sufficient shear strengths at the test temperature. Current experience with this technique is limited to 1 300 °C, because of the maximum application temperature of ceramic glues.
b)   cold end method.
NOTE 2   The cold-end method is limited to 1 700 °C in air and 2 000 °C in inert atmosphere because of the limits of furnaces.
Both methods allow for a failure rate in the determination of distribution of tensile strain and tensile strength.

This European Standard describes a method for undertaking ultimate strength tests on slotted rings (C-rings) in order to determine the strength of ring or tube-shaped components in the manufactured geometry.

This European Standard describes requirements and methods for proof testing of advanced technical ceramic components. It provides general guidance concerning the design of the test and the methodology for the selection of loading conditions.

1.1   This part of EN 1071 describes a method for evaluating the wear of ceramic coatings by use of a test in which a flat or spherically ended pin is brought, under load, into contact with the flat surface of a disk and the two are set in relative motion such that the pin describes a circular path on the disk. Depending on the conditions being simulated, either the pin or disk or both may be coated with the material under test, with the other member of the couple being selected for its relevance to the system under evaluation.
1.2   Where suitable equipment is available, the test may be used to determine the friction generated in the sliding contact.
1.3   The method is suitable for evaluating coatings in the thickness range from 1 to more than 100μm, and with suitable choice of conditions might also be applicable to testing thinner coatings.
1.4   Testing may be under either dry or lubricated conditions. However, the test is not designed for evaluating the properties of lubricants except in so far as they affect the wear behaviour of the materials being tested. Related methods for testing lubricants using a reciprocating motion are given in references [4] – [6].
1.5   Testing a materials couple under a range of loading conditions might provide information about the adhesive and/or cohesive strength of the coating, in addition to its wear behaviour.

1.1   This European Standard describes a method for evaluating the wear of ceramic coatings by use of a reciprocating wear test whereby a flat or spherically ended pin is reciprocated, under load, against a flat plate. Depending on the conditions being simulated, either the pin or plate or both may be coated with the material under test, with the other member of the couple being selected for its relevance to the system under evaluation. The method described is considered to be not suitable for evaluating fretting wear.
1.2   The method is intended for evaluating coatings with a thickness of more than 1 μm, though might also be used for testing thinner coatings.
1.3   The test may be carried out under either dry or lubricated conditions. However, the test is not designed for evaluating the properties of lubricants except insofar as they affect the wear behaviour of the materials being tested. Related methods for testing lubricants using reciprocating motion are given in references [4] to [6].
1.4   Testing a materials couple under a range of loading conditions might provide information about the adhesive and/or cohesive strength of the coating, in addition to its wear behaviour.

This Technical Specification describes requirements and methods for undertaking tests to determine the resistance of the edges of brittle ceramic materials to be damaged by chipping or flaking. It is limited to homogeneous monolithic ceramics with flat surfaces and straight sharp or chamfered edges.