The effect of erodent particle characteristics on the erosion of metals

Abstract The effects of several particle variables on the erosivity of particle streams were determined. They included shape, mass, size impact velocity and feed rate. Tests were carried out at room temperature on 1018 steel using spherical glass beads and angular SiC, neither of which shattered upon impact. The ranges of the test variables, particularly the particle velocities, used in the investigation were considerably different from those reported in the literature. It was determined that the particle size effect was different for spherical and angular particles. The angular particles were much more erosive than the spherical particles. Lower feed rates caused more mass loss than higher feed rates when tests with large differences in the feed rate were compared.