High temperature erosion-oxidation behavior of steels

Abstract

The high temperature erosion-oxidation (E-O) behavior of steels AISI 1020, 304, 310 and 410 was determined. A test rig in which a specimen assembly was rotated through a fluidized bed of erodent particles was used to determine the E-O behavior. Alumina powder (200µm) was used as the erodent. The E-O tests were carried out in the range 25 - 600ºC, with average particle impact velocities of 6, 14 and 30 ms-1 at an impact angle of 90º. In the E-O tests, wastage of the steels varied with temperature and particle impact velocity (PIV). Depending on PIV, a transition in the dominant wastage mechanism occurred and the transition temperature varied with steel composition. Variation in Cr content of the steels did not affect wastage at low PIV. AISI 410 with 12% Cr revealed the lowest wastage at 30 ms-1 compared to AISI 304 and 310. E-O maps of the steels were prepared as a function of PIV and temperature. Low, moderate and severe wastage zones were indicated in these maps to aid selection of these steels for industrial applications.