Experimental setup for testing and mapping of high temperature abrasion and oxidation synergy

Performance and lifetime of engineering materials at high temperature are affected by degradation of a material under wear and corrosion to a great extent. To assess the material performance at high temperature, the most detrimental processes and their interactions should be known and understood for materials selection and design of new advanced materials. The present study introduces an experimental setup for testing and mapping of high temperature abrasion taking into consideration the process of oxidation. A new design of a test rig has been developed at Tallinn University of Technology to provide synergy study of wear and oxidation and to improve the effectiveness of control and monitoring the mechanisms of materials failure at room and high temperatures (up to 1000 degrees C). Methodology for assessment and mapping of the effects of abrasion and corrosion on materials performance are presented along with some results obtained for high temperature abrasion of titanium carbide- and chromium carbide-based cermets as well as for steel. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.