Study on the Wear Behavior Mechanism of SUS304 Stainless Steel During the Homogenization Process of LFP/NCM Slurry

During the homogenization process of lithium battery slurry, the slurry shearing process causes the surface of the homogenization equipment to wear and generate metal containing debris, which poses a risk of inducing battery self-discharge and even explosion. Therefore, inhibiting wear of homogenizing equipment is imperative, and systematic investigation into the wear behavior and underlying mechanisms of SUS304 stainless steel during homogenization is urgently required. In this study, lithium iron phosphate (LFP) and lithium nickel cobalt manganese oxide (NCM) cathode slurries were used as research objects. Changes in surface parameters, microstructure, and elemental composition of the wear region on SUS304 stainless steel under different working conditions were characterized. The results indicate that in the SUS304-lithium-ion battery slurry system, the potential wear mechanism of SUS304 gradually evolves with changes in load and rotational speed, following the order: adhesive wear (low speed, low load) → abrasive wear (medium speed, high load) → fatigue wear (high speed). Under high-load and high-rotational-speed conditions, oxidative corrosion wear on the ball-disc contact surface is particularly pronounced. Additionally, wear of SUS304 is more severe in the LFP slurry system compared to the NCM system. Macroscopic experiments also revealed that the speed effect is a core factor influencing the wear of SUS304, and the increase in its wear rate is more than twice that caused by the load effect. This study helps to clarify the wear behavior and wear mechanism evolution of homogenization equipment during the lithium battery homogenization process, providing data support and optimization direction for subsequent material screening and surface strengthening treatment of homogenization equipment components.