The agricultural industry heavily relies on machinery and equipment for efficient farming practices, but harsh environmental conditions can cause premature wear and tear, leading to financial losses. Three-body abrasion research is essential for developing more durable materials for various industries, including agriculture. Mild steel is commonly used in agricultural machinery but lacks resistance to moisture and corrosion. Slurry handling equipment is prone to wear due to abrasive particles, and red soil presents challenges for farmers. A study was conducted to investigate the wear resistance of mild steel under three-body abrasion under slurry conditions, simulating real-life agricultural environments. Different loads and operating durations were considered, and SEM was used to examine the worn surfaces. Weight loss during sliding wear was found to increase proportionally with duration and applied load. Increasing load leads to more severe wear due to higher shear forces and the formation of nucleation sites for wear particles. There is an increase in the weight loss by about 8 times when the applied load increased from 10 N to 70 N. The slurry regime and rotational speeds also affect wear rate, with higher speeds leading to deeper penetration of abrasive particles and greater impact force. The severity of wear increases with time and different wear mechanisms dominating at different durations, as observed through the SEM analysis. These findings emphasize the importance of considering load, slurry regime, and rotational speed when designing materials for sliding wear applications.
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