THE DESIGN OF A HIGH-TEMPERATURE EROSION APPARATUS FOR STUDYING SOLID PARTICLE IMPACT

An erosion test apparatus which can be used to study solid particle erosion at room and elevated temperature is described. It is designed to allow for a variety of test conditions, including different erodents and erodent size distributions. Sample temperatures of 500 degrees C and particle velocities of 85 m s(-1) can be reached. The design also allows for all angles of impact between 0 degrees and 90 degrees to be studied. The erosion tester has been used to study several erosion resistant coatings as well as fundamental research on the effect of particle velocity and flux on erosion. Calibration data and results from a preliminary study are included.