Article,
The interaction of particle and material behaviour in erosion processes
Wear, 16 (6): 447-465 (1970)
DOI: 10.1016/0043-1648(70)90171-7
Abstract
The results of earlier work to determine the effects of velocity and dust characteristics on sand erosion are summarised and new data presented. Evaluation of the erosion resistance of materials as diverse as metals, plastics and ceramics shows that there is a very wide range of behaviour that cannot be simply related to a mechanical property such as strength or hardness. Testing of reinforced plastics (type 66 nylon and an epoxy resin) shows that reinforcement may improve or worsen the resistance to erosion, depending on the type of fibres used. Consideration of the mechanism of erosion leads to the suggestion that impacting particles initially cause pitting and extrusion and may break into fragments which cause secondary damage in directions radial to the point of initial impact. The mechanism of the fragmentation has been studied by high speed photography and examination of the surface topography of single impacts. For different initial sizes of particle against the 11% chromium steel, type 66 nylon, and fibreglass, it is shown that there is a minimum size below which the particles do not break up.
