Mechanisms of Material Removal During Erosion of a Stainless Steel

Abstract

Solid particle erosion of an austenitic stainless steel was studied utilizing various metallographic techniques. Examination of single impacts on a polished surface resulted in a semiquantitative crater classification. It was, however, found that material removal generally involves the interactive effect of several cumulative impacts. Consequently, topography and internal structure of the target surface layer after multiple impacts were investigated. In particular, preeroded targets were reexamined after additional single impacts. The strength of the surface layer was estimated by a simple tape experiment, which also supplied information of the size and morphology of presumptive wear debris. Two major erosion mechanisms were distinguished:

1.	Cutting erosion. Detachment of crater lips by cutting action of one or several impacts.
2.	Deformation erosion. Detachment of material by surface fragmentation due to multiple cumulative impacts.

Surface layer hardness and ductility are the most important material properties for cutting and deformation erosion resistance, respectively.

Presented at the 37th Annual Meeting in Cincinnati, Ohio, May 10–13, 1982

Notes

Presented at the 37th Annual Meeting in Cincinnati, Ohio, May 10–13, 1982