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.