ASTM D2266-23

This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Designation: D2266 − 23
Standard Test Method for
Wear Preventive Characteristics of Lubricating Grease
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(Four-Ball Method)
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D2266; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the U.S. Department of Defense.
1. Scope* D6300 Practice for Determination of Precision and Bias
Data for Use in Test Methods for Petroleum Products,
1.1 This test method covers the determination of the wear
Liquid Fuels, and Lubricants
preventive characteristics of greases in sliding steel-on-steel
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applications. It is not intended to predict wear characteristics 2.2 ANSI Standard:
with metal combinations other than steel-on-steel or to evaluate B3.12 for Metal Balls
the extreme pressure characteristics of the grease.
3. Terminology
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the
standard except where the test apparatus or consumable parts
3.1 Definitions:
are only available in other units. In such cases, these will be
3.1.1 For definitions of terms used in this test method, refer
regarded as standard. The values given in parentheses are for
to Terminology D4175.
information only.
3.2 There are no terms in this test method that require new
or other than dictionary definitions.
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the
safety problems, if any, associated with its use. It is the
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro- 4. Summary of Test Method
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
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4.1 Three ⁄2 in. (12.7 mm) diameter steel balls are clamped
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
together and covered with the lubricant to be evaluated. A
1.4 This international standard was developed in accor-
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fourth ⁄2 in. diameter steel ball, referred to as the top ball, is
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
pressed with a force of 40 kgf (392 N) into the cavity formed
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
by the three clamped balls for three-point contact. The tem-
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
perature of the lubricating grease specimen is regulated at
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
75 °C (167 °F) and then the top ball is rotated at 1200 r ⁄min for
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
60 min. Lubricants are compared by using the average size of
the scar diameters worn on the three lower clamped balls.
2. Referenced Documents
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NOTE 1—Because of differences in the construction of the various
2.1 ASTM Standards:
machines on which the four-ball test can be made, the manufacturer’s
D4172 Test Method for Wear Preventive Characteristics of
instructions should be consulted for proper machine setup and operation.
Lubricating Fluid (Four-Ball Method)
NOTE 2—Although the test can be run under other test parameters, the
D4175 Terminology Relating to Petroleum Products, Liquid
precision noted in Section 11 can vary when testing with other than test
parameters listed in Section 8.
Fuels, and Lubricants
5. Significance and Use
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This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D02 on
5.1 The four-ball wear-test method can be used to determine
Petroleum Products, Liquid Fuels, and Lubricants and is the direct responsibility of
the relative wear-preventing properties of greases under the test
Subcommittee D02.G0.04 on Functional Tests - Tribology.
Current edition approved July 1, 2023. Published August 2023. Originally
conditions and if the test conditions are changed the relative
approved in 1964. Last previous edition approved in 2015 as D2266 – 01 (2015).
ratings may be different. No correlation has been established
DOI: 10.1520/D2266-23.
between the four-ball wear test and field service. The test
This test method has been adopted for use by government agencies to replace
Method 6514 of Federal Test Method Standard No. 791b.
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For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
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Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on Available from American National Standards Institute (ANSI), 25 W. 43rd St.,
the ASTM website. 4th Floor, New York, NY 10036, http://www.ansi.org.
*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard
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