ASTM D3233 for Measurement of Extreme Pressure Properties of Fluid Lubricants
ASTM D3233 Standard Test Methods for Measurement of Extreme Pressure Properties of Fluid Lubricants (Falex Pin and Vee Block Methods)
4. Summary of Test Methods
4.1 Both test methods consist of running a rotating steel journal at 290 ± 10 rpm against two stationary V-blocks immersed in the lubricant sample. Load is applied to the V-blocks by a ratchet mechanism. In Test Method A (Note 1), increasing load is applied continuously. In Test Method B (Note 1), load is applied in 250-lbf (1112-N) increments with load maintained constant for 1 min at each load increment. In both methods the load-fail value obtained is the criteria for level of load-carrying properties. Both methods require calibration of the load gage and reporting of test results as true (corrected) loads rather than actual gage loads.
NOTE 2 - Test Method A is referred to as the Falex Run-Up Test. Test Method B is referred to as the Falex One-Minute Step Test.
5. Significance and Use
5.1 Evaluations by both test methods differentiate between fluids having low, medium, and high levels of extreme-pressure properties. The user should establish any correlation between results by either method and service performance.
NOTE 3 - Relative ratings by both test methods on the reference fluids covered in Table 1 and Table 2 are in good general agreement with four-ball weld-point relative ratings obtained on these same reference fluids, covered in Test Method D2783.
