Abstract
Solid Particle Erosion System was manufactured as a laboratory and according to the ASTM G76 specifications in a horizontal position with a feeder screw, as the system consists of the main parts: air compressor, voltage regulator, and rubber connection hoses. And the main parts of the rig: nozzle, screw, DC motor, transmission pipes, and Installation platform. The nozzle was made of low alloy steel and hardened by water-quenching, and the conical nozzle cavity was made to insert sand into the nozzle barrel. Tolerance was chosen between the screw and cylinder in practice, with a tolerance of (4 mm) out of two experiments that were tried (2, 4 mm). So, the tolerance was chosen based on the used particles (erodent) in different ranges (150-350 µm), (350-500) µm) and (500-710 µm), preferably a tolerance that gives a smooth spin rotation. One of the things to consider is the stability of the sand flow rate and the issue of overflow or vice versa is the occurrence of a stop flow, and taking into consideration the calibration between the spin rotation and the pressure of the air. Also, the sizes of sand particles used can determine several things, including tolerance, the diameter of the nozzle barrel, and the velocity of particles that can be taken. The rig was tested for specimens of unsaturated polyester (UP) and its composites reinforced with (5 wt. %) of silicon carbide, where the experiment was carried out at an impingement velocity (25.2 m / s) and impingement angles (30°, 60°, 90°) and the size of the erodent from sand Silica has a size of (350-500 µm), so the results showed that the polyester gave the highest erosion rate at the angle (90°), which indicates its brittle behavior, while its composites gave the highest erosion rate at the angle (60°), which indicates its semi-ductile behavior. It is comparing the results obtained with previous research that shows that the rig gave positive results, and it can measure the rate of erosion of polymeric materials and their composites.
