The effect of impingement velocity and angle variation on the erosion corrosion performance of API 5L-X65 carbon steel in a flow loop

Abstract

Erosion corrosion performance of API 5L-X65 carbon steel was investigated at three different impingement velocities (3, 6 & 12 m/s), five different angles (15, 30, 45, 60, & 90°), and with/without solid particles (average particle size of 314 µm). The experiments were conducted in 0.2 M NaCl solution at room temperature for a duration of 24 h and the results showed that the maximum erosion corrosion rate was observed at 45° irrespective of the velocity. The highest erosion corrosion rate at 45° was due to the balance between the shear and normal impact stress at this angle. Ploughing, deep craters, and micro-forging/plastic deformation were found to be the main erosion corrosion mechanisms. The maximum wear scar depth measured using optical profilometery was found to be 51 µm (average) at an impingement angle of 45°.