Overview
ISO 6370-1:1991 - Vitreous and porcelain enamels - Determination of the resistance to abrasion - Part 1: Abrasion testing apparatus specifies the requirements for the physical testing apparatus used to evaluate the abrasion resistance of vitreous and porcelain enamel coatings. This part defines the machine components, dimensions and functional features (including illustrative figures) necessary to ensure repeatable, comparable abrasion testing. It covers apparatus design only; the measurement of mass loss after abrasion is addressed in ISO 6370-2.
Key topics and technical requirements
- Scope: Requirements for the abrasion testing apparatus used on enamelled surfaces; includes general description and figures.
- Main components:
- Oscillating table and drive: A horizontal oscillating table (~10 mm thick) mounted on an eccentric drive so each point describes a horizontal circle of 22 mm ± 1 mm diameter. The table must be large enough to hold at least three specimens and three reference glass plates.
- Drive frequency: The eccentric drive must provide a controlled rotational frequency (document indicates 300 min⁻¹ ± 3 min⁻¹).
- Blocking rings (clamping ring): Minimum of six blocking rings are required. Rings may be steel, cast iron or light metal and are lined internally with rubber; they include an opening for abrasive charge that can be sealed with a rubber plug.
- Sealing rings: At least six elastic sealing rings (e.g., rubber) with specified dimensions: ~87 mm ± 0.5 mm inner diameter, 10 mm ± 2 mm width, 2 mm ± 0.5 mm thickness.
- Clamping devices: Must press the lower edge of the blocking ring onto the sealing ring to retain the specimen or reference glass on the oscillating table; clamping must be quickly releasable for specimen exchange.
- Illustrative figures: Figures show specimen and reference glass arrangement (Figure 1) and blocking ring dimensions (Figure 2).
Applications and users
This apparatus standard is intended for:
- Materials and coatings laboratories performing abrasion resistance testing on vitreous or porcelain enamels.
- Manufacturers of enamelled products (cookware, sanitaryware, architectural panels) for production quality control and durability assessment.
- R&D and coatings engineers comparing enamel formulations or surface treatments.
- Third‑party test houses and certification bodies that require standardized test apparatus to support reproducible results.
Practical uses include routine QC checks, comparative benchmarking of enamel formulations, and providing standardized input to Part 2 (mass loss after abrasion) for performance evaluation.
Related standards
- ISO 6370-2 - Vitreous and porcelain enamels - Determination of the resistance to abrasion - Part 2: Loss in mass after abrasion (complements Part 1 by specifying measurement and evaluation).