ANALYSIS OF WEAR PARTICES

Rubbing wear

wear due to rubbing, and is

typically considered normal.
Parallel, thin lines at the
beginning of ferrogram.

Contaminants

Dirt, sand and other silica

particulate.

SPHERE

A relatively smooth spherical

particle.
ANALYSIS OF WEAR PARTICES

BLACK OXIDE
Black oxides are
generated during metal-to-
metal contact where
micro-welding occurs and
are indicative of boundary
lubrication. Contaminants
are created by welding,
grinding, arcing, and blast

COPPER
Copper particles appear
golden orange, brass
appears golden yellow and
bronze appears a darker
yellow/orange when viewed

carbon

Black in color irregular

shape.
ANALYSIS OF WEAR PARTICES

Fibre

Fibers are thread-like

material made of
asbestos, paper, glass or a
synthetic material.

Cutting Wear

Shaved metal particles

that look like wood
shavings from a lathe.
Seen in sleeve bearings
and shaft couples.

HIGHE STEEL ALLOY

Gray before and after

heating pink in colour.
Ferrous and appears in
strings.
 ANALYSIS OF WEAR PARTICES

BEARINGS

Flat particles with irregular

and smooth edges that have
holes in them.

LOW STEEL ALLOY

• Gray before heating, blue after heating (can also be

pink or red after heating). Ferrous and found in strings
ANALYSIS OF WEAR PARTICES

Corrosive wear

Fine particles at the exit of

ferrogram.

Sliding wear

Flat particles with parallel

striations on it at the entry
of ferrogram.

Molybdenum Disulphide

Grayish-purple in color with

many shear planes, non-
ferrous, semi-metallic, does
not change after heat
treatment.