The oscillating abrasion tester is used to measure the resistance of a material to surface abrasion and scratching. Its primary application is for transparent materials and coatings in lenses and windows. However it can also be used to evaluate materials such as organic coatings, plastics, metals and more.

• Test parameters can be altered and allow the operator to select the operating stroke length (6,5 to 150 mm) and speed (100 to 200 cycles per minute)
• May be used with abrasive slurry to perform erosion tests
• Using a custom specimen holder (not supplied), materials of various shapes may also be tested

Rigid specimens that are 100 mm square and less than 12,5 mm in thickness are mounted in a holder located in the bottom of a sand tray so the surface is flush within 1 mm. The tray is filled to a uniform depth (e.g 12,5 mm) with a standardized abrasive media such as quartz silica or alumina. A scotch-yoke drive system reciprocates the tray in a back-and-forth (to-and-fro) motion which causes the entire mass of the abrasive media to shift significantly within the tray. The oscillating movement of the abrasive media results in a random pattern of scratches which simulates normal everyday wear.