Solid particle erosion of alumina ceramics at elevated temperature

A big gap exists for the understanding of the influence of temperature on erosion behavior at elevated temperature between experimental observations (up to 1100 °C) and high temperature industrial application (up to 1600 °C). This work the first time investigated the effect of higher temperature on the erosion resistance and mechanism of alumina ceramics. The solid particle erosion behavior of high purity alumina ceramics has been studied at elevated temperatures up to 1400 °C and different impingement angles (30°, 45°, 60°, 75°, and 90°), using corundum and SiC particles as erodent. Erosion rate of alumina ceramics slowly increases from 0.32 mm3 g−1 to 0.44 mm3 g−1 below 800 °C, and then significantly increases up to 1.30 mm3 g−1 at 1400 °C. With increasing the impingement angle, the erosion rate increases slightly and reaches maximum value at 90° from room temperature to 800 °C. However, the maximum value of erosion rate occurs at 75° and 60° for 1200 °C and 1400 °C, respectively. The brittle erosion mechanisms still dominate the material removal at elevated temperature. The material removal is mainly resulted from transgranular cleavage and grain removal.

Graphical abstractVariation of erosion rate as a function of the impingement angle with different temperatures.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slideHighlights► The erosion rate of alumina ceramics increases slowly from room temperature to 800 °C, then sharply rising above 800 °C. ► The maximum erosion rate took place at 75° and 60° for 1200 °C and 1400 °C. ► There is no obviously evidence of plastic deformation at 1200 °C and 1400 °C. ► The harder SiC particles lead to more severe erosion damage of alumina ceramics, compared with corundum grits.