Solid particle erosion of mullite

The solid particle erosion of mullite (3Al₂O₃·2SiO₂ plus approximately 12% glass phase) was investigated using angular A1₂O₃ particles whose mean diameters D were varied between 23 and 270 μm. A range of impact angles α between 15° and 90° was used and the impact velocity V was varied from 60 to 100 m s^?1. The results of these experiments are in agreement with the general predictions of the two models developed to describe erosion in brittle materials on the basis of the formation of lateral cracks. The velocity exponent of the steady state erosion rate ΔW is between 2.2 and 2.8, being larger for smaller particles. For normal incidence, $\text{ΔW ∝ D}{}^{\mathrm{<mtext>2</mtext><mtext>3</mtext>}}$ in accord with both theories. For α > 15° only the normal component of velocity need be considered, but for smaller α there is evidence of plasticity both in the α dependence of ΔW and as observed using scanning electron microscopy.