Effects of hardness on the solid particle erosion mechanisms in AISI 1060 steel

The mechanisms of mass loss were studied using impacts of single particles (WC spheres $\text{3}\text{16}$ in in diameter) for a 0.6% C steel (AISI 1060 steel) heat treated to give hardnesses of 12, 45 or 60 HRC. Both oblique and near-normal angles of impact were used. A new foil laminate was developed to measure rebound velocity and angle. Velocities of 100–200 m s^?1 were studied. A measurable mass loss was found only at 200 m s^?1. At a hardness of 12 HRC the mode of metal loss involved the loss of shear lips. At 60 HRC the dominant loss mode involves the intersection of adiabatic shear bands (ASBs) and shows a maximum mass loss at near-normal impact. The material with a hardness of 45 HRC shows both modes of mass loss and a maximum mass loss rate at oblique (30°) impact. ASBs on the surface and welding of target material to the impacting ball indicate a high temperature at the surface. However, the material welded to the particle is not a significant fraction of the material lost.