SURFACE DEGRADATION MONITORING CAUSED BY CAVITATION EROSION AFTER CORROSION IN THE MARINE ENVIRONMENT

<p>Monitoring cavitation erosion in materials is crucial for their performance in environments<br />characterized by severe fluid flow conditions. Materials such as metals, ceramics, and composites,<br />commonly used in these applications, must possess specific mechanical properties to effectively<br />resist cavitation erosion. Additionally, various environmental factors, including different chemical<br />solutions, can significantly alter a material's response to cavitation. In this study, the impact of the<br />marine environment was investigated using a prepared NaCl solution, following the standard<br />procedure of ISO 11130:2017(E), to evaluate its influence on further cavitation erosion exposure of<br />materials. Cavitation erosion tests were performed on steel samples (42CrMo4) after immersing<br />them in NaCl solution for 120 days. An ultrasonic vibratory test, conducted according to the ASTM-<br />32-16 standard, was employed to assess the material's erosion resistance. To evaluate the extent of<br />cavitation damage, various methods were utilized, including monitoring mass loss and calculating<br />the mass loss rate, as well as conducting image analysis to quantify pit dimensions, the number of<br />pits, and overall degradation levels. The results provide valuable insights into the relationship<br />between material properties, environmental exposure, and cavitation erosion, with implications<br />for the design and selection of materials for use in marine and intensive fluid flow applications.</p>