Considerations upon the cavitation erosion resistance of stainless steel with variable chromium and nickel content

Abstract

Paper presents results of experimental investigations regarding the cavitation erosion of eight different stainless steels with constant carbon content (0.1 %). Four of them have constant chromium (12%) and variable nickel content. The other four have constant nickel (10 %) and variable chromium content. Using the images of the eroded specimens, the parameters MDPR and MDP as well as the characteristic curves, the influence of chemical and structural modifications, upon the cavitation erosion, are put into evidence. The investigated steels, manufactured through casting, maintain the general composition of the materials with good cavitation erosion qualities. The experimental researches were carried out in Timisoara Hydraulic Machinery Laboratory on a magnetostrictive facility, taking into account the ASTM G32-2008 Standards [10].