EFFECT OF PARTICLES TYPE, VELOCITY, AND IMPACT ANGLE ON SLURRY EROSION OF STAINLESS STEEL USING SIMPLE TEST RIG

The present work is a study of the effect of slurry particle type, impact angle, and velocity, and test duration time on the erosion process of stainless steel 316, 304. Erosion change the surface geometry of the parts, components of machines that will affect the performance and efficiency of the parts may be causing the parts failure. Mud or sand particles were used in water with concentration of 40 wt. %. The particle maximum dimension is 550 μm. Specimens velocities were 2.3m/s and 5.75 m/s using a simple test rig was designed and fabricated to investigate slurry erosion and cavitation erosion. This is done by rotating the specimens in a transparent tank containing slurry with the desired composition and concentration with a fluid. The velocity of specimens can be from zero m/s up to 14 m/s. The specimen weight loss of the eroded sample was examined and was evaluated. The weight loss is measured using a balance with sensitivity of 0.0001g, and the surface is photography using SEM examination. Results show that; the increase of particles hardness results in increase the weight loss. And increase the testing time affecting the wear rate. Also increase velocity increasing weight loss. Impact angle has a great effect on weight loss. Test rig results come in agreement with the previous theoretical and experimental results. It is concluded that test rig is valid to investigate the slurry erosion and cavitation erosion due to different parameters.