Tribo-chemical wear testing of rock drill inserts

• Top hammer rock drill bits are equipped with cemented carbide inserts. These inserts consist of WC and ~6w% Co binder. Due to the recent classification of Co as a probable carcinogen upon inhalation there is a need to substitute Co. Thus, in the present work the wear of Co, Ni and Fe based cemented carbides are compared in a wear test that mimics the wear surface in real drilling conditions. The inserts are tested against counter surfaces of granite and sandstone using deionised water and synthetic mine water as flushing agents. This with the aim to study the tribo-chemical nature of the wear as well as the impact of different stones. To the authors’ knowledge, the impact of the chemical environment on cemented carbide degradation in a wear test that imitates the field wear scars in rock drilling is not yet known. The work focuses on studying the wear rate differences between the different cemented carbides and test conditions and includes a study of the worn surfaces using SEM and EDS.

Ämnesord

TEKNIK OCH TEKNOLOGIER  -- Maskinteknik -- Tribologi (hsv//swe)

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY  -- Mechanical Engineering -- Tribology (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

rock drilling

cemented carbide

mine water

binder phase

Teknisk fysik med inriktning mot tribomaterial

Engineering Science with specialization in Tribo Materials

Publikations- och innehållstyp

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