Particle Shape and Size Effects on Slurry Erosion of AISI 5117 Steels

Solid particle shape and size effects on the slurry erosion behavior of AISI 5117 carbon steels are investigated, using whirling-arm ring for two different erodent particles, namely, silica sand (SiO₂) and silicon carbide (SiC). From this work, it was found that aspect ratio and circularity factor (CF) increase for silica sand and decrease for silicon carbide with increasing size. The erosion rate increased with the increase of particle size for the two types of erodent particles and its value was greater in the case of silicon carbide particles. At the same test conditions, it has been noticed that the particle size plays the major role in the slurry erosion of 5117 steels in comparison with the aspect ratio and circularity factor. Microcutting and plowing with serrated wear tracks were observed for coarse SiC particles having irregular and angular shape. But, for coarse SiO₂ particles which had a rounded shape, the main mechanism was plowing with plain and smooth wear tracks for an impact angle of 30 deg. Indentations and material extrusion prevailed for the coarse size of the two erodents for an impact angle of 90 deg.