Analysis of Erosive Wear of Aluminium Alloy 6063 Grade through Air Jet Erosion Wear Tester

Erosive wear is caused by the impact of liquid/air jet in which solid particles entrapped against the surface of an object. Erosive wear occurs in a wide mechanical application such as turbine blades when an aircraft flies through dust clouds, and the wear of pump impellers in mineral slurry processing systems, etc. Aluminium alloy 6063 grade is used in various application in aircraft architecture and frames and automobile engine radiators, bumpers, suspension parts to reduce weight of automobile. Parameters which affect the erosive wear significantly are Particles velocity, impact angle, and size of erodent particle. In the present work, erosive wear of Aluminum alloy 6063 grade has been investigated through Air jet erosion wear tester. Erodent that used in Air jet erosion wear is Alumina oxide i.e Al2O3. Flow rate of the erodent with air is 5gm/min and the duration of test time is 10 min is constant. Experiments were performed at various testing parameters which were pressure 1.5 bar, 2.0 bar, 2.5 bar and 3.0 bar and at different angles i.e 15o, 30o, 45o, 600 degrees to investigate the erosion wear of sample. Experimental results showed that increase in pressure increased the rate of wear and when angle of impact of jet at 15o occurred significant wear as compared to greater than 15o angle. Microscopic study of sample also done with the images. Different patterns of wear observed with the change in parameters.