ABSTRACT
Wear by slurry abrasion is a apparent problem in engineering components undergoing
to specific flow.
The existence of the components under slurry abrasive wear situations is largely decided by operating conditions and the
materials properties. Aluminium alloys are extensively used for abrasion resistant applications. Our research is on slurry
abrasion response of die casting aluminium alloy (LM-13) under a wide range of experimental conditions. The response
data is generated using methodical and simultaneous variation of test parameters. The experiments were performed using
silica sand slurry with different slurry concentration under different wheel hardness and load. The wear weight loss showed
an increasing tendency with the increase of test parameters. Aluminium alloys, by virtue of their exceptional combination
of properties, continue to evolve as direct replacements for steels. Though, the wider use of aluminium and its alloys is
frequently impeded by their reputation for poor tribological behaviour. The present research mainly focuses on simple
engineering scenario where comparative tribological behavior of surface engineered LM-13 in abrasive slurry has been
evaluated to identify treatments capable of improving its wear behavior.
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particles clearly improve the wear performance of Al 6063 alloy. SEM was used to analyse the surface morphologies of the
worn out surfaces. [K. Sivaprasad, S.P. Kumaresh Babu, S. Natarajan, R. Narayanasamy, B. Anil Kumar, G. Dinesh].
Slurry pumps, and pipes carrying slurry of minerals and ores are subjected to wear in mineral processing
industries. The wear characteristics of equipments used under slurry abrasion environment is administered by the process
parameters and properties of abrasive particles in abrasive slurry. Various slurry abrasion tests were performed using
slurry abrasion test equipments with silica sand as the abrasive medium to evaluate the consequence of sliding distance,
normal load and slurry concentration . The morphology of the worn out surfaces after slurry abrasion test was examined
by scanning by electron microscope. The morphological studies of the worn surfaces showed traits variations in the wear
model under different test conditions [S.G. Sapate, A.D. Chopde, P.M. Nimbalkar, D.K. Chandrakar].
Microstructural characteristics of the alloy were modified by regulating the T6 heat treatment conditions and their
weight on hardness, strength and elongation of the samples in erosion-corrosion and abrasion environment were examined.
Quality of the Al-Si alloy samples were evaluated with Al usually used in agricultural machineries. Fabrication of a
component using the Al-Si alloy was also looked at to make out the viability of using the alloy system for the thought
applications. The study revealed the outcome of the samples in variety of conditions is by and large affected by conditions
like chemical composition, microstructural features and applied load, traversal distance and test characteristics.
The research revealed cast Al-Si is better to that of the predictable Al samples. The T6 heat treated Al-Si alloy exhibit
superb wear resistance characteristics under wide sets of testing conditions. [A. K. Gupta, B. K. Prasad, R. K. Pajnoo,
S. Das ]
The engineering equipments are vulnerable to surface hurt by slurry graze through transportation pipes carrying
ore and mineral slurries, extruders, sand pumps and agitators, Slurry abrasion caused significant stress which is by and
large influenced by hardness of abrasive particle, slurry concentration, particle size.[ Avishkar Rathod, S. G. Sapate & R.
K. Khatirkar]
INTRODUCTION
Automotive and aero space industries predominately use light metal AL based alloys because of their exceptional
characteristics such as, high strength to weight ratio, good formability, desirable corrosion resistance, high castability due
to low viscosity at molten state and high endurance strength. Whereas AlSi alloys like LM13 exhibit low coefficient of
thermal expansion, high coefficient of heat transfer, high strength at high temperature, and resistance to hot tear and
desired tribological performance making it suitable for piston alloys.
On the one hand wear is necessary for material removal but causes ill effect of premature failure of engineering
components. This leads to significant downtime and sometimes premature replacement of the equipments. Downtime and
replacement of equipments results in significant monitory loss to the organization. Abrasive wear is one of the most
common type of failure in industrial relevance. According to an estimate about 50% of the time equipments fail due to
abrasive wear. Total cost of failure due to abrasive wear is somewhere around whopping 2-4 % of the gross national
product for all nations. Abrasive wear normally take places while transporting abrasive slurries particularly in mining
applications. The wear pattern of equipments used in slurry environment is influenced by the process parameters such as
properties of abrasive particles in slurry and material properties. Aluminium and its alloys are extensively used for
enhancing wear life of engineering equipments in abrasive wear conditions. The abrasive wear properties of carbon steels
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Slurry Abrasion Response of Die Casting Aluminium Alloy (LM-13) Under a Wide Range of Experimental Conditions
can be changed by varying hardness and microstructure by appropriate heat treatment. The quenched and tempered
carbon steel with martenstic microstructure exhibit 1.52.0 times improved resistance to slurry abrasion as contrast to
pearlitic microstructure.
Slurry abrasion is a probable problem in industrial equipments such as slurry pumps, pipelines carrying ore and
mineral slurries and extruders. The slurry abrasion test were carried out using silica abrasive particles. The consequence of
test parameter such as sliding distance, normal load, slurry concentration and size of particles size of abrasive medium on
a slurry abrasion characteristics of aluminum alloy was examined. The slurry abrasion volume loss enhanced with sliding
distance, normal load, slurry concentration and size of particles of abrasive medium. The outcomes implies that size of
particles and slurry concentration had comparatively stronger effect on wear loss as contrast to that of normal load
conditions. An attempt was made to correlate the abrasion wear characteristics with wide variety of test parameters.
EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION
Experimental Setup
The slurry abrasion test with 300-450 m silica sand was performed on the LM13 alloy using slurry abrasion
tester TR-44. The slurry was prepared by mixing 1.5 kg of silica sand particles in 1 litre of distilled water. The slurry is
placed inside the slurry chamber where the rectangular specimen (57.3 x 25.7 x 12.3 mm)is placed with the help of lever in
contact with neoprene rubber wheel. The specimen is tested under different normal loads and with the different hardness of
rubber wheel of hardness 50, 60 and 70 durometer hardness. The revolution and the rotation are kept fixed.
Figure 1
Constuction of Slurry Abrasion Tester
The slurry abrasion test Rig TR-44 is designed to determine the resistance of metallic materials to scratching
abrasion by means of wet sand and rubber wheel test. The test data produced will reproducibly rank materials in their
resistance to scratching abrasion under a specified set of condition in conformity with ASTM G105.
Description of Equipment
This Test Rig is versatile with wide operating range, with realistic radial loads, and control systems.
The test Rig consists of a frame, a slurry unit with loading drive and control systems.
The main components of test Rig are installed in the frame. The frame is relatively rigid to avoid disturbing
deformations and vibrations. The slurry unit consists of a test chamber fitted with rubber wheel, radial loading and
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slurry inlet and outlet. The loading system generates the radial load. On this test Rig both dynamic and static
loading is applied through same loading lever.
The drive system drive the rubber wheel, it consists of a power unit, an AC motor with reduction gear box output
shafts connected to wheels. For accurate rotational speed control, the power unit is driven by a variable frequency
drive; voltage to motor is controlled to decrease variation in rotational speed.
The control system controls the main operations of the test Rig.
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Slurry Abrasion Response of Die Casting Aluminium Alloy (LM-13) Under a Wide Range of Experimental Conditions
mix the slurry and propel it towards specimen. The neoprene rubber confirms to classification D 2000(SAE J200). The
outer dia of wheel is 178 mm and thickness 13 mm.
Specimen to be tested is pressed against the periphery of the wheel by a L shaped loading lever pivoted above the
chamber with a mechanical advantage of 1: 1.65, the specimen is fitted in the slot on the bottom of lever. Load applied is
by suspending dead weights on the free end of loading lever. Specimen size is 25.4x57.2x6.4 to 15.9 mm thick; specimen
is retained on position by a plate clamped on the side to prevent sliding out during test. A lever lifter is fixed below loading
lever; it raises the loading lever to prevent contact with wheel.
To prevent leakage of slurry the front of chamber is covered with stainless steel cover, the abrasive sand AFS
50/70 and de-ionized water for test are poured though the inlet port from chamber top, the slurry is retained inside the
chamber after test and removed by opening the lid, additionally a tank is place below chamber to remove the slurry.
The chamber is water cooled to keep slurry temperature constant, a inlet and outlet ports are fixed to supply cooling water.
Proximity Sensor
On the output shaft from the gear box a proximity sensor disc with slots on the circumference is mounted to
measure wheel speed, when wheel rotates disc also rotate with it, a proximity sensor fixed perpendicular to it on a bracket
with equal gap on disc circumference; signal is generated when sensor disc approaches the active surface with in the
specified switching distance. This sensor functions in contact less fashion and do not require any sensing mechanism.
An inductive proximity sensor is selected as it has excellent means of detecting the presence of a wide range of
metallic targets. This detection is accomplished without contacting target and is mechanically wear free. It is comprised of
a high frequency oscillator circuit followed by level detector, a post amplification signal circuit and drives a buffered solid
state output.
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In effect when the sensor disc is brought within effective range of the emitted field of the oscillator, a damping
action results which reduces the amplitude of oscillator. This amplitude shift is converted to digital signal by the level
detector, which drives the buffer stage. When the object is removed, the oscillator and digital output is turned to its former
state.
Controller
The operation of machine is from the front panel, fixed on convenient height for operation on the front panel of
machine. Test speed is set by rotating the potentiometer knob in the clockwise direction till the require speed is noticed on
the screen of the module, the test duration it is set by entering the values into the module using the soft keys. Press
start/stop switch and to begin & end test.
Description
Rated supply voltage
Rated supply current
Rated supply frequency
Harmonics
Dip in voltage
Voltage interruption
8
9
10
11
12
Operating temperature
Humidity
Altitude
Vibration
Radiation
13
Transportation temperature
14
Handling
Remark
415 V 10 %
15 A 1 %
50 Hz 2 %
Not > 10 % of the total RMS phase to phase to voltage for the sum of
2nd & 5th harmonic. An additional 2% max of total RMS phase to phase
voltage for the sum of 6th to 13th harmonic.
Not > 20% of peak supply voltage for more than 1 cycle. There
should be more than one sec between successive dips.
Neither the voltage of the negative sequence component nor the
voltage of the zero sequence components shall exceed 2% of the positive
sequence component.
Supply interrupted is zero voltage for not more than 3sec, at any
random time in the supply cycle. There shall be more than 1 sec between
successive interruptions.
Between +5 & +40oC
Up to 50% @ 40 OC
Not exceeding 1000 mt above MSL
Anti-vibration pads provided for isolating vibration
Do not keep any other radiation equipment near it
Protection is provided to against failure while transporting between 25 oC & 55 oC
Sufficient gap provided on structure to use fork lift or hydraulic pallet
trolley for transport
Index Copernicus Value (ICV): 3.0
Slurry Abrasion Response of Die Casting Aluminium Alloy (LM-13) Under a Wide Range of Experimental Conditions
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Part Name
AC Motor
Gear box
Variable frequency drive
Electricity and power
Range
1.5 kw,1415 rpm, 415 V, 50Hz, foot mounted
1:7 reduction ratio, with 3 output spindles
1.5 kw capacity
415 V x 1 x 5 Hz; 15A; 1.5 kw
Details
Remarks
Normal load
Speed
Test duration
790 mm
Slurry Abrasion Tester Details
Slurry abrasion
chamber size
250 x 225 x 70 mm
Outlet port of
chamber size
30 x 160 mm
Initial force on
specimen due to dead
weight of loading
lever
2.25 kg
Wheel specification
and size
Steel disc with an outer layer neoprene rubber molded on periphery 178 X 13 mm thick
Specimen size
25.4X57.2X6.4 to 15.9 mm
Abrasive used
Equipment size l x b
xh
Weight of the
equipment
365 kg
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Mechanical Design
Figure 5
Table 3: Description of Parts of TR-44
Item no.
Description
01
02
03
Loading pin
04
Weight
05
Structure
06
Stirring paddle
07
Rubber wheel
08
Specimen spacer
09
Funnel
10
Top cover
11
12
13
14
Motor
15
16
Weight stand
Slurry Abrasion Response of Die Casting Aluminium Alloy (LM-13) Under a Wide Range of Experimental Conditions
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Operation
The abrasive wear depends on abrasive particle size, shape and hardness, the magnitude of the stress imposed by
the particle and the frequency of contact of the abrasive particle. These conditions are standardized to develop a uniforms
condition of wear. The tests conducted does not attempt to duplicate all the process conditions (abrasive size, shape,
pressure, or corrosive elements), it should only be used to predicting the exact resistance to of a given material in a specific
environment.
Test Summary
The slurry / wheel abrasion test involves the abrading of a specimen with a grit of controlled size & composition.
The paddle on the rotating wheel propel the slurry towards the specimen. The test specimen is pressed against a rotating
wheel at a specified force by means of a lever arm lies in a plane which is approximately tangent to the wheel surface, the
normal to the horizontal diameter along which the load is applied. The test duration and force applied by lever arm is
varied. Specimens are weighed before and after test and the loss in mass is recorded, abrasive resistance and wear number
are calculated.
Rubber Wheel
Three rubber wheels having shore A durometer hardness of 50, 60 or 70 are generally used for test, it consist of a
steel disc with an outer layer neoprene rubber molded to its periphery. The wheel size is 178 X 13 mm thick, thickness
clean the wheel with solvent, mount on the spindle and tighten with washer, check visually wheel is running true, if not
mount the dressing attachment in inlet port on chamber, ensure the file is facing the rubber surface.
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Slurry Abrasion Response of Die Casting Aluminium Alloy (LM-13) Under a Wide Range of Experimental Conditions
Specimen Cleaning
Remove all dirt or foreign matter from the specimen. Clean the specimen with a solvent or cleaner and dry to
remove all the traces of solvent, steel specimen with residual magnetism should be demagnetized before use.
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Slurry Abrasion Response of Die Casting Aluminium Alloy (LM-13) Under a Wide Range of Experimental Conditions
rpm on the new specimen but with fresh slurry. Repeat the test on the specimen using 70 shore hardness wheel with fresh
slurry, care to be taken to clean the slurry chamber after each test and weigh the specimen to find mass loss.
Thoroughly clean & rinse the slurry chamber to remove the remnants of slurry from previous test
Install the rubber wheel of nominal 50 durometer on the spindle, place the paddle on either side of wheel and
tighten the wheel with a washer. Take reading on the surface of rubber wheel using a shore a durometer
tester; record the average of the readings.
Mount the dressing attachment on the inlet port of slurry chamber and dress the surface of the wheel
Remove the attachment and replace with inlet cap, clean the entire surface of the wheel and chamber
thoroughly to remove any particles.
Clean the surface of LM13 for dirt, degrees and dry the specimen.
Clamp the specimen inside specimen folder portion on lever and fasten with side plate if thickness of
specimen is less than 12.7mm than use appropriate shim to build the height to 12.7mm.
Ensure the drain plug is tightened properly fill the slurry of 1.5kg of quartz sand AFS 50/70 and .94 kg of
water at room temperature and close the front lid and tighten for volts to lock the lid to prevent slurry
seepage/spillage/splash switch on the MCB to supply power to power to tester allow 1 min for stabilizing the
electronic circuit.
Press the start switch and rotate the set rpm knob till the speed display on module shows 200 rpm press.
Stop to arrest spindle rotation, but retain the position of set rpm knob.
Set the counter to 3000 revolution to shut of automatically after 3000 rev, press start switch to begin wheel
rotation.
Remove the lever lifter to lower the specimen holder carefully against the wheel to prevent bouncing and
apply a force 222 N.
Wheel rotates, the direction of rotation is from the slurry to the specimen, and the paddles on either side of the
wheel agitate and mix the slurry to propel it towards specimen.
Remove the drain block and flush the slurry out of the vessel.
Open the front cover and scoop out the remaining slurry and discard it.
Remove specimen rinse free of grit and dry, allow it to cool to ambient temperature.
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The actual abrasion test is conducted on the same wear scar starting with 50 Durometer rubber wheels, for each
test the specimen is installed with the same orientation and position. For each new test fresh slurry is used. Follow the same
procedure mentioned in run-in test and repeat with 50, 60 & 70 Durometer rubber wheels in the order of hardness.
Operation
The abrasive wear depends on abrasive particle size, shape, hardness of wheel, magnitude of the load imposed by
lever arm and the frequency of contact of the abrasive particle. These conditions are standardized to develop a uniforms
condition of wear. The tests conducted does not attempt to duplicate all the process conditions (abrasive size, shape,
pressure, or corrosive elements), it should only be used to predicting the exact resistance to of a given material in a specific
environment.
Test Specimen
Material: LM13 (Al-Si12Cu1Mg1) or (EN 1706 AC-43100)
Chemical Composition of LM13:
Table1: Chemical Composition of LM13
Alloying Element
Silicon (Si)
Copper (Cu)
Magnesium (Mg)
Iron (Fe)
Manganese (Mn)
Nickel (Ni)
Zinc (Zn)
Lead (Pb)
Tin (Sn)
Titanium (Ti)
Aluminium (Al)
Percentage (%)
10-13
0.7-1.5
0.8-1.5
1.0 max
0.5 max
1.5 max
0.1 max
0.1 max
0.1 max
0.2 max
Remainder
Slurry Abrasion Response of Die Casting Aluminium Alloy (LM-13) Under a Wide Range of Experimental Conditions
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Process Parameters
Sand: AFS 50/70 quartz sand
Slurry Concentration: 1.5 kg sand and 1 kg water (60 % by wt.)
RPM: 200 rpm, Revolutions: 3000 rev
Weight of Lever: 1.5, 2 and 3kg
278.41
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698.52
730.78
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Slurry Abrasion Response of Die Casting Aluminium Alloy (LM-13) Under a Wide Range of Experimental Conditions
The volume loss of LM13 due to slurry abrasion is increases with increase in the normal load on the specimen in
the linear manner.
The volume loss of LM13 due to slurry abrasion first increases with increase in wheel hardness from 50
durometer to 60 durometer and then decrease on further increase in the wheel hardness, from 60 to 70 durometer.
In future much more studies are required to develop a reliable correlation which can include the effect of various
parameters affecting slurry abrasion, including heat treatment, which could be applied to wide range of Aluminum-silicon
alloys. The coating of the material is also one of the options which widely used in industries. Further study will also require
with different type of slurries and loads. These studies will provide the base for the selection and development of proper
material necessary for the components working under severe erosion conditions.
REFERENCES
1.
R. L. Deuis, C. Subramanian, J. M. Yellup, Abrasive wear of aluminium composites- a review, wear 201 (1996)
132-144, Elsevier.
2.
H. Dong, A. Bloyce, T. Bell, Slurry abrasion response of surface engineered Ti6A14VELI, Tribology
International 32 (1999) 517-526, Elsevier.
3.
K. Sivaprasad, S.P. Kumaresh Babu, S. Natarajan, R. Narayanasamy, B. Anil Kumar, G. Dinesh, Study on
abrasive and erosive wear behavior of Al 6063/ TiB2 in situ composites, Material Science and Engineering A
498 (2008) 495-500, Elsevier.
4.
S.G. Sapate, A.D. Chopde, P.M. Nimbalkar, D.K. Chandrakar, Effect of microstructure on slurry abrasion
response of En-31 steel, Materials and Design 29 (2008) 613-621, Elsevier.
5.
S.G. Sapate, A. Selokar , N. Garg, Experimental investigation of hardfaced martensitic steel under abrasion
conditions, Materials and Design 31 (2010) 4001-4006, Elsevier.
6.
Joel Hemanth, Abrasive and slurry wear behavior of chilled aluminium alloy (A356) reinforced with fused silica
(SiO2p) metal matrix composites, Composites: Part B 42 (2011) 1826-1833, Elsevier.
7.
K. Gupta, B. K. Prasad, R. K. Pajnoo, S. Das, Effect of T6 heat treatment on mechanical, abrasive and erosivecorrosive wear properties of eutectic Al-Si alloy, Trans. Nonferrous Met. Soc. China 22 (2012) 1041- 1050,
Elsevier.
8.
S. G Sapate, Jagdish Raut, Investigations on wear by slurry abrasion of hardfaced low alloy steel, Int. J. on
Production and Industrial Engineering, Vol. 03, No. 01, June 2012, AMAE.
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Avishkar Rathod, S. G. Sapate & R. K. Khatirkar, Shape factor analysis of abrasive particles used in slurry
abrasion testing, International Journal of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering (IJMIE) ISSN No. 2231 6477,
Vol-2, Iss-4, 2012.
10. R. Ashiri, B. Niroumand, F. Karimzadeh, M. Hamani, M. Pouranvari, Effect of casting process on microstructure
and tribological behavior of LM13 alloy, Journal of Alloys and Compounds 475 (2009) 321327, Elsevier.
11. www.stle.org/resources/lubelearn/wear/.
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