Solid particle erosion behavior of an Si3N4-MoSi2 composite at room and elevated temperatures

The solid particle erosion behavior at room and elevated temperatures (180, 500, 700 and 900 degrees C) of an Si3N4-MoSi2 composite was studied. Alumina particles entrained in a stream of nitrogen gas impacted the target material at a velocity of 40 m s(-1). Impingement angles of either 60, 75 or 90 degrees were used. It was found that the erosion rate for the Si3N4-MoSi2 composite (measured at room temperature) was a maximum at the 90 degrees incident angle, erosion behavior typical of brittle materials. The erosion rate of the composite at a 75 degrees impingement angle increased slightly with increasing test temperature up to 700 degrees C (i.e. from 4.1 to 4.9 mm(3) g(-1)). At 900 degrees C, the measured erosion rate decreased to 2.9 mm(3) g(-1). The erosion behavior of the Si3N4-MoSi2 composite was compared to that of commercially available Si3N4. WC-6%Co. 304 SS, IN-800 (Ni-Fe-Cr alloy) and Stellite-6B (Co-Cr-W-Mo alloy). (C) 1999 Published by Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.