Effect of microstructure on slurry abrasion response of En-31 steel

Wear by slurry abrasion occurs in extruders, slurry pumps, and pipes carrying slurry of minerals and ores in mineral processing industries. The wear life of components used under slurry abrasion conditions is governed by the process parameters, properties of abrasive particles in slurry and material properties. In the present work slurry abrasion response of heat treated En-31 steel was studied. The quenched and tempered specimens of En-31 steel, tempered at different temperatures, were used in the present investigation. The slurry abrasion tests were performed using slurry abrasion test apparatus with silica sand as the abrasive medium. The effect of sliding distance, normal load and slurry concentration on volume loss was evaluated. The experiments were also carried with simultaneous variation of normal load and sliding distance. The results of the present work were explained by a model, V = (K × S × L)/(H)2/3, where V is the volume loss in slurry abrasion, S is the sliding distance, L is the normal load, H is the bulk hardness of the surface and K is wear coefficient. The morphology of the worn surfaces after slurry abrasion was studied under scanning electron microscope. The morphological studies of the worn surfaces revealed characteristic differences in the wear pattern under different test conditions. The operating mechanisms of material removal involved ploughing and cutting.