Analysis of the pulsating water jet maximum erosive effect on stainless steel

Abstract

The presented article deals with the analysis of the maximum erosive effect of ultrasonically pulsed water jet on the surface of austenitic stainless steel EN X5CrNi18-10. One stainless steel sample was evaluated. The sample was disintegrated at a traverse speed of v = 0.20 mm s−1, at a pressure of 39 MPa. The influence of the pulsating water jet at maximum erosion was evaluated based on surface and subsurface characteristics. The surface of the sample was evaluated by the surface topography based on roughness profile parameters Rp [µm] and Rv [µm]. The microstructure of the subsurface layer was evaluated by metallographic analysis. By examining the surface disintegrated with a high-efficiency pulsating water jet, massive surface destruction with a significant loss of material was found. The resulting topography of the surface was uneven and was characterized by the formation of depressions and protrusions with great differences in height. The metallographic analysis showed the formation of cold deformation and the formation of defects in the surface layers. The high destructive effect of the ultrasonically enhanced pulsating water jet also confirms material tearing, mostly along the austenitic grain boundaries, to a depth of maximum 100 μm.