Solid Particle Erosion of Lantana Camara Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Matrix Composite

The present investigation reports the solid particle erosion behaviour of randomly oriented short Lantana-Camara fiber-reinforced polymer composites (LCRPCs) using silica sand particles (200 +/- 50 mu m) as an erodent. The erosion rates of these composites have been evaluated at different impingement angles (15 degrees-90 degrees) and impact velocities (48m/s-109m/s) with constant feed rate of erodent (1.467 +/- 0.02 gm/min). Highest wear rates were investigated at impingement angles 45 degrees. Erosive wear rates were found to have a close relationship with the impingement angle of the erodent and speed. The morphology of eroded surfaces was examined by using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Possible erosion mechanisms were discussed.