The Mild-Severe Wear Transition in Erosion Wear

• Published in: Tribology letters 2018-09, Vol.66 (3), p.1-10, Article 95
• Main Authors: Zambrano, O. A., García, D. S., Rodríguez, S. A., Coronado, J. J.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Abrasive erosion; Abrasive wear; Abrasives; Chemistry and Materials Science; Corrosion and Coatings; Craters; Deformation wear; Erosion mechanisms; Fracture toughness; Grooves; Materials Science; Nanotechnology; Original Paper; Physical Chemistry; Plastic deformation; Surfaces and Interfaces; Theoretical and Applied Mechanics; Thin Films; Tribology
• ISSN: 1023-8883; 1573-2711
• DOI: 10.1007/s11249-018-1046-6

In this study, three types of abrasives and several types of heat treatments and materials were used to obtain 11 different abrasive/material hardness ( H a / H m ) ratios with the aim of elucidating the effect of the H a / H m ratio on the mild-severe wear transition in erosion wear. This effect has seldom been addressed in the erosion wear literature focused on metallic materials. Solid particle erosion wear tests were performed. The experimental results showed different wear regimes when the H a / H m ratio was modified based on the fracture toughness of the erodent material ( K Ic ); a moderate wear regime was observed for modified H a K Ic _ abrasive / H m ratios less than 2, while a severe-moderate transition was observed for values between 2 and 4. The wear surface observations revealed a relationship between the wear erosion regimes and the wear micromechanisms. For the moderate wear regime, only superficial grooves and a slight plastic deformation were observed; for the transition wear regime, deeper grooves and craters were observed. Finally, in the severe wear regime, the deepest grooves and craters were observed, as were plastic deformation and cutting.