ISO 6601:2002

Overview

ISO 6601:2002 - Plastics - Friction and wear by sliding - Identification of test parameters defines the parameters and conditions that test methods should address when characterizing the sliding friction and wear behavior of plastics. It does not prescribe a specific test procedure; rather, it identifies the variables, system elements and measurable quantities that form the basis for developing standard test methods and material specifications. The document is intended as a foundation for further ISO test standards and for consistent tribological evaluation of plastics.

Key topics and technical requirements

• Scope and purpose
  • Identification of parameters associated with sliding friction and wear of plastics.
  • Basis for subsequent standards covering test methods and material specifications.
• Parameter classification
  • Intrinsic parameters: material nature, physico‑chemical state, surface condition and finish.
  • External parameters: applied load, sliding velocity, motion characteristics, contact mode, ambient conditions (temperature, humidity), interstitial matter (lubricants, wear debris).
  • Hybrid parameters: those depending on both material and sliding conditions (e.g., surface temperature).
• Variables to analyze in tests
  • Type of motion (sliding, rolling, impact, flow), time variation (continuous, oscillatory), normal load, surface velocity, temperature, and test duration.
• Tribological system structure
  • Elements: body, counter‑body, interfacial medium, surrounding medium.
  • Properties: bulk (chemical, mechanical, hardness) and surface (roughness, physico‑chemical).
  • Interactions: contact mode (conformal vs non‑conformal), friction regime (dry, boundary, mixed, hydrodynamic, gas), and wear mechanisms.
• Wear mechanisms identified
  • Adhesive, abrasive, degradative (environmental), surface fatigue, and surface‑asperity‑related ploughing.
• Measurable quantities
  • Friction: friction force and coefficient of friction.
  • Wear: mass/volume/dimensional change, wear resistance, mean wear rate, wear per distance. Also qualitative appearance (pits, waves, flakes, scratches, grooves, cracks).

Applications and who uses it

• Intended users:
  • Materials engineers, tribologists, test laboratories, product designers, quality control teams, standards developers.
• Practical applications:
  • Defining test conditions when developing or selecting plastics for sliding applications (bearings, seals, gears, footwear soles).
  • Guiding material selection and comparative evaluation under simulated service conditions.
  • Establishing consistent quality control protocols across production batches.
  • Informing development of more specific ISO test methods and specifications.

Related standards and references

• Prepared by ISO/TC 61 (Plastics), SC 2 (Mechanical properties).
• Bibliography includes ISO 4378‑2 and classic tribology literature; ISO 6601:2002 serves as a framing document for subsequent test‑method standards.