Particle Size Effects on Slurry Erosion of 5117 steels

The effect of particles size and shape on erosion rates and erosion mechanisms of 5117 steels are investigated using slurry whirling-arm ring. Six different sized silica sand particles are used as erodent. These particles are characterized in terms of their average diameter, aspect ratio, and circularity factor. The measured average diameter varies from $112.7μm$ to $516.4μm$⁠. The wear tests are carried out at impact velocity of 15 m/s and 30 deg and 90 deg impact angles using a sand-water mixture of $1wt%$ concentration. Analysis of erosion rates shows that there exists threshold energy of impacting particles at which a transition in erosion rate is noticed for sizes of $200μm$⁠. It is also observed that the erosion rate increases with the increase in shape factors (aspect ratio and circularity factor). The surface morphology of the eroded surface at impact of 30 deg shows that below $200μm$⁠, the erosion mechanism is indentation and material extrusion and above $200μm$⁠, the erosion mechanism is ploughing.