Challenges in the quantification of high temperature erosive wear

Abstract

Relevant quantification issues of high temperature solid particle erosion (HTSPE) are investigated on steel and thermally sprayed Cr₃C₂–25NiCr. Important physical parameters of HTSPE tests, such as alumina particle size (average diameter 232 μm), temperature (985°C), speed (64 m s⁻¹), feedrate (114 g min⁻¹) and sample temperature (650°C), are kept constant, whereas the particle impingement angle (30 and 60°) is varied in a simple experimental set-up. The determining criterion for quantifying erosion is volume loss. Oxidation and embedment of erodent particles in the material surface, transforming the material and/or invalidating the wear quantification, are detectable by energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and backscattered electron analysis in a scanning electron microscope. Particle embedment seems to have a stronger contribution to the wear quantification than surface oxidation and significantly affects the high temperature erosion performance of the tested materials.