Wear Processes of Abrasion-Resistant Materials in Soil Environments of Varying pH

Abstract

The paper evaluates the effect of the value of the negative logarithm of the hydrogen ion concentration in solution, denoted as pH, on the wear of materials used for elements working in the soil mass. Three types of materials with different chemical composition and manufacturing technology were analyzed. The study was carried out under laboratory conditions using the "spinning bowl" method. Low-alloy martensitic steel, boron-containing wearresistant steel, and Fe-Cr-Mn-containing surfacing applied to martensitic steel were tested. Soil pH was found to have a significant effect on the wear pattern of the materials tested. The greatest wear was found in acidic soils with a pH lower than 5, and it was 30-40% greater, depending on the type of material, with respect to soil with a pH above 6.8. The greatest destructive effect was found for low-alloy martensitic steel containing "promoters" of hydrogen penetration. The ways in which the surface is used depending on the pH of the treated soil are described. Hydrogen wear is revealed by decohesion due to weakening of the structural bond of the material. The stages of the process of destructive hydrogen action are defined.