Cavitation Erosion Resistance of Silicified Graphite by Liquid Silicon Penetration Technique

Abstract

This technical brief studied the cavitation erosion behavior of the silicified graphite. The phase constituents, surface microstructure, and chemical compositions of silicified graphite were examined by using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), respectively. Cavitation experiments were carried out by using an ultrasonic vibration test system. The experimental results show that the silicified graphite exhibits an excellent cavitation erosion resistance; this can be attributed to the fact that the silicified graphite has the characteristics of both the silicon carbide and the graphite. The SEM morphology studies of the erosion surfaces indicated that the inherent brittleness of SiC ceramic material results in the formation of erosion pits on the surface of silicified graphite.