Controlled slurry-jet tests found a dual-peak erosion response in polychloroprene rubber: a maximum at 15-20 degrees from cutting and ploughing and a secondary peak at 90 degrees from deformation and cracking. A 20 mm stand-off balanced particle energy and delivery, while higher velocity, particle size and sand concentration all increased erosion.
Key findings
- Erosion peaked at 15-20 degrees through shear-driven cutting and ploughing, with a second peak at 90 degrees involving indentation, microcracking and deformation. The optimum stand-off was 20 mm under the test conditions. Larger particles caused disproportionately greater damage despite lower impact frequency because of higher momentum and local deformation.
Why this matters globally
Mechanistic understanding can improve selection of rubber linings, pumps, valves and components in mining or slurry transport by matching material use to flow direction and particle conditions rather than relying on one aggregate wear value.
Thai researcher contribution
Wichain Chailad of the Department of Materials and Metallurgical Engineering, Rajamangala University of Technology Thanyaburi, is the Thai-affiliated co-author contributing materials-wear expertise.
Limitations to consider
The rig used one elastomer over bounded laboratory conditions and does not reproduce long-duration temperature, chemistry, ageing or mixed-shape particle effects. The existing model captured broad cutting and deformation contributions but not viscoelastic recovery, strain-rate sensitivity or time-dependent response.