The role of edge-concentrated wear in impact-abrasion testing

The role of edge wear was studied in impact-abrasion testing conditions with an impeller-tumbler type test device. Three steels with different mechanical properties were tested at 30° and 90° sample angles using natural granite stone as abrasive particles. The edge and planar (inner) areas were carefully exposed to the same conditions by using tightly fitted two-part samples to obtain relevant information about the differences in their wear behavior. The role of edge-concentrated wear was dominant in all materials, and the edge wear rate was several times higher than the wear rate of the inner parts of the specimens. The difference in wear rate was particularly large in short tests and with the 90° sample angle. However, the dominance of the edge-concentrated wear decreased as the test duration became longer. The wear mechanism was largely microfatigue in all materials, but the samples tested at the 30° sample angle showed more microcutting in comparison to the 90° samples. Moreover, the role of microcutting was higher in the wear of the edge parts than in the inner parts.