The effect of the inclusion of ceramic particles in polythene material on the response to erosion due to impingement by sand particles at three angles is investigated. It is seen that erosion resistance varies with ceramic inclusions. The work also considers the limitations posed by the system in adopting weight change measurements as a measure to follow erosive wear owing to the softer nature of the matrix material. Consequently, the investigation looks at two other experimental parameters that can readily be measured to quantify erosion. Of the two approaches, the advantages of following wear through measuring linear dimension of the resulting crater is stressed in this work. The study also highlights the problems associated in assessing the depth of the crater as a parameter to express the extent of erosion owing to the phenomenon of material flow suggested and schematically illustrated in the work. Corroborative evidence for this flow behaviour through scanning electron microscopic studies is presented. © 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

Abstract

2002