Erosion of SS41 steel by sand blasting

Abstract

Erosion of SS41 steel by sand blasting, with abrasives of different particle sizes striking at different angles, was experimentally investigated under different environmental conditions. Experiments were conducted at temperatures of 25 °C, 35 °C, 45 °C, and 55 °C and at 50, 65, 80, and 95 pct relative humdity (RH). The surface morphology of the eroded area was studied. In addition to the target volume loss, the worn area and worn depths of the eroded material were investigated. Among the test temperatures, it was found that the temperature of 45 °C resulted in the lowest volume loss and worn area, but also in the deepest worn scar at nearly every attack angle. Among the test humdity conditions, the deepest worn scar occurred at a low attack angle (15 deg) for very low and high humidity conditions (RH = 50 and 95 pct), while it occurred at intermediate angles for intermediate humidity conditions (RH = 65 and 80 pct). If the applied pressure of the carrier gas and the total weight of the particles were constant, finer particles tended to result in more volume loss and deeper worn scars, with only a minor effect on the worn area.