SOLID PARTICLE EROSION OF NI-CR WC METAL-MATRIX COMPOSITES AT ELEVATED-TEMPERATURES - CONSTRUCTION OF EROSION MECHANISM AND PROCESS-CONTROLMAPS/

The object of this study was to generate erosion maps for various part iculate reinforced Ni-Cr/WC metal matrix composites by investigating t he effect of erodent velocity with low velocity conditions, at elevate d temperatures. The erodent used was alumina and the environment was o xidizing. The results showed that the ranking order of erosion resista nce, as a function of volume fraction, reversed as the velocity increa sed. A similar effect was observed as the temperature increased. It is shown how erosion mechanism and materials performance maps, showing t he erosion regime and magnitude of the wastage rate, can be constructe d from the results in the study. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science S.A.