Analysis of solid particle erosion in plasma sprayed alumina based coatings on SAE-347H steel

The erosion behavior of three different cermet coatings namely, Al2O3, Al2O3 + 3% TiO2 and Al2O3 + 13% TiO2 was studied in order to perform erosion analysis. The coatings were sprayed using Plasma spray gun in a simulated coal-fired boiler conditions on SAE-347H steel. An optical profilometer was put to use in order to find weight loss, erosion profiles and erosion rate (mm3/g) in term of volume loss. All the Plasma gun sprayed cermet coatings were able to protect SAE-347H steel from erosive wear at incident angles of 30°, 60° and 90°. In case of uncoated SAE-347H steel specimens the solid particle erosion (SPE) rate was highest at an incident angle of 30°, nominal at incident angle of 60° and lowest at incident angle of 90°.