Study on the Solid Particle Erosion and Erosion-Corrosion Behavior of Aluminum and Steels
جهانزيب مالك , Ihsan-ul-Haq Toor
كلية الهندسة-جامعة الملك فهد للبترول والمعادن · السعودية
Solid particle erosion (SPE) is a mechanical degradation process in which the material gradually wears away through subsequent impact by abrasive particles while erosion-corrosion (EC) combines both: electrochemical degradation by electrolyte and mechanical wear by solid particles entrained in a flow. The mechanism of erosion-corrosion depends on whether erosion precedes corrosion and/or corrosion precedes erosion. The latter is known as corrosion-enhanced erosion. In the present work, solid particle erosion comparison of two stainless steels (AISI 316 and AISI 310S), one carbon steel 1020 and aluminum 6060-T4 (solution heat-treated and naturally aged) was carried out and the effect of hardness on their erosion resistance was evaluated. All erosion experiments were performed according to ASTM G76-95 standard. In the second part of the thesis, corrosion-enhanced erosion behavior of carbon steel AISI 1020 and stainless steel AISI 316 was investigated. Specimens were immersed in low pH chloride bearing environments for different immersion times. The corroded specimens were then subjected to SPE in order to evaluate the effect of pre-corroded specimens on their erosion rates (corrosion enhanced erosion).Aluminum 6060-T4 showed maximum erosion resistance at all conditions. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of the eroded surfaces revealed ductile erosion mechanism on all the alloys. Results from the corrosion-enhanced erosion experiments indicated significant increase in erosion rates of corroded carbon steel 1020, while the erosion rates of stainless steel 316 were found to be less affected by the corrosion. In addition, the erosion rates for carbon steel specimens immersed for 24h were found to be higher than those immersed for other times. This was attributed to the increase in hardness and surface roughness for 24h immersed specimens relative to all other immersion times. Scanning Electron Microscopy revealed evidence of material cutting, shredding and localized fractures in eroded-corroded AISI 1020. Extensive plastic deformation by extrusion and forging is observed in AISI 316 but without any evidence of fracture marks. In relation to the bulk hardness of the test materials, it was found that the erosion rates for both corroded and un-corroded specimens increase with the increase in bulk hardness of the alloys.