Abrasion

Abrasion, also called friction or wear, refers to the loss of material on the surface of workpieces that occurs during use or transport. This is caused by a mechanical load, such as rubbing, which creates abrasion. With ceramic tiles, for example, abrasion is caused by the action of small hard particles, such as grains of sand, which create a rubbing effect on the surface. "Wear" is the preferred term in the refractory industry. Here, the progressive loss of material on the surface is characterised by contact with and the relative movement of a solid, liquid or gaseous medium with an opposing body.