A Study on Cavitation Erosion Behavior of Different Metals in Biomass Fuel/Diesel Blend

Abstract

The cavitation erosion behavior of different metals, such as pure copper (Cu), steel GCr15 (ASTM A295) and stainless steel 1Cr18Ni9Ti (ASTM A276 321), in the emulsified biomass fuel/diesel (10wt% biomass fuel in blend with diesel fuel) was investigated by using a magnetostrictive-induced cavitation vibratory apparatus. The morphology of surface was observed by optical microscope and scanning electron microscope, and the cavitation erosion rates of three metals were evaluated by mass loss method. The surface compositions after cavitation erosion were analyzed by energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The experimental results showed that the surface morphologies and elements of Cu and GCr15 were changed greatly before and after cavitation erosion in the emulsified biomass fuel/diesel blend, as contrast to 1Cr18Ni9Ti. The degree order of cavitation erosion among three metals was Cu, GCr15 and 1Cr18Ni9Ti, because that the anti-corrosion effect of 1Cr18Ni9Ti played a great role in the mass loss by cavitation erosion.