Abrasive and Erosive Wear Behavior of Elastomeric Polyurethane Coatings: Effect of Grain Size

Polyurethane coatings are widely used as protective layers against wear, mainly abrasive wear. They have recently been applied to surfaces exposed to erosive wear, such as wind turbine blades. This study investigated the abrasive and erosive wear of polyurethane elastomeric coatings with hardness values of 55 ShA, 75 ShA, and 95 ShA. The abrasive wear test was carried out using loose abrasive grains. The erosive wear test was carried out using a pressurized stream of gas containing abrasive particles. Both tests were carried out using aluminum oxide grains of five different sizes to evaluate the effect of particle size on wear behavior. Microscopic and profilometric analyses of the surface of the wear tracks were carried out. The mechanism of abrasive and erosive wear of polyurethane elastomeric coatings was determined. The results of the tests show a non-linear dependence of abrasive and erosive wear on the grain size. Furthermore, polyurethane elastomer coatings with a higher hardness exhibit a lower abrasive wear resistance but higher susceptibility to erosive wear. These findings provide insight into the trade-offs between hardness and wear performance, offering practical guidance for selecting polyurethane coatings in applications requiring resistance to combined abrasive and erosive wear.