Causes of wear
Wear is primarily driven by the intrinsic stress forces in rock processing operations, and is influenced by several key factors.
- Material hardness: Harder materials generally cause more wear as they are more abrasive.
- Energy and load: The energy applied and the load employed during operations impact wear rates. Greater energy and heavier loads accelerate material degradation.
- Speed: The speed at which materials move can affect different types of wear, including abrasive and erosive wear.
- Dynamic loading: Loads that vary over time during operation (dynamic loading) can cause greater stresses and lead to more fatigue wear. Repeated stress causes micro-cracks that propagate and merge, leading to material loss.
Understanding these factors allows for the design of more wear-resistant equipment. It also helps in the selection of appropriate materials and operational parameters that minimize wear and extend the life of processing components.