Effect of Microstructure on Erosion Resistance of 0.69 C Hypo-eutectoid Steel Against Alumina

Abstract

The current study aims to examine the erosion resistance of hypo-eutectoid steel. The assessment of erosion resistance was conducted at 0.69 wt% hypo-eutectoid steel samples were heat treated to obtain pearlitic and martensitic microstructure and erosion tests were performed against alumina erodent. The observed impact angles spanned a range of 15° to 90°, whereas the recorded velocity variation was between 40 to 90 m/s. The main aim of the study was to measure and determine the erosion rate in a steady state condition. The analysis of erosion behaviour was conducted utilizing the power law model, which is represented by the equation E = kvn. The experimental findings indicate that normalized steel exhibits greater resistance to erosion compared to hardened steel when subjected to high impact angles and high velocity. There was a positive correlation between the hardness of normalized steel and its erosion resistance, while a divergent pattern of behaviour was seen in the instance of hardened steel. The eroded samples were subjected to Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) for a deeper understanding of different erosion mechanisms. During instances where low-impact angles are present, the erosion of normalized steel takes place via a phenomenon referred to as ploughing which diminishes while hardness escalates, and in contrast, cutting, crater formation, material splashing, and the embedding of erodent particles at high-impact angles. In the context of hardened steel, erosion predominantly takes place at low-impact angles by a mechanism referred to as microchipping with no adherence and plastic deformation while fractures, pits, and craters at increased angles of impact. © The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2024.