Investigation of the Slurry Erosion Behavior of Super 304HCu Stainless Steel Under Normal Impact Conditions

Abstract

Slurry erosion is an important wear issue in pipelines, pumps, and other industrial equipment that operate in environments where solid particles are transported along with the liquid. In this study, the slurry erosion behaviour of Super 304HCu alloy is examined under different simulated conditions, including slurry velocity, slurry concentration, and time of exposure. The experiments for these investigations are carried out in a slurry erosion test rig at various rotational speeds of 6 m/s, 9 m/s, and 12 m/s, with varying slurry concentrations of 10%, 20%, and 30%. The weight loss of the test specimens was recorded at regular intervals to determine the erosion rate. The experimental results indicate that the weight loss of the material steadily increases with increase in time of exposure, slurry velocity, and slurry concentration. At higher slurry velocities the increase in kinetic energy of the abrasive particles, result in stronger impacts on the material surface and consequently increase material removal. Similarly, the increase in slurry concentration increases the probability of the number of particles interacting with the surface, and accelerates the erosion process. SEM micrographs of the worn surfaces of the specimens revealed typical wear characteristics of erosion of a ductile material.