METHODOLOGY DEVELOPMENT OF AN IMPACT ABRASION TEST WITH VALIDATION BY COMPARISON WITH REAL INDUSTRIAL CASE

A testing methodology is proposed to simulate wear in dry conditions with a high-stress impact level. The studied impact abrasion test is known as the impeller-tumbler test. A methodology for this test was established based on a parametric study in order to investigate the corresponding influence on wear results. The rotation speed and the filling ratio of the abrasive particles were identified to have the highest influence on wear results, controlling the impact energy level on the material surface. Further parameters such as the particle size/type and contact duration were also inspected. Once stabilized, the methodology was applied on two industrial cases: stone crusher hammers from mineral processing and chute tour plates in mining application. Results for the first application showed wear mechanisms occurring on different positions of the HSI crusher hammers that are similar to the mechanisms observed on the impeller-tumbler abraded samples surface. For the mining application, a quantitative comparison of the wear rates was done showing a second validation case for the impact test. Finally, a predominant edge-concentrated wear was identified for all materials and was quantified using a 3D geometry reconstruction method.