Evaluation of Internal Stresses in Modified Near-Surface Layer of 20Kh13 Steel during Incubation Period of Water Droplet Impact Erosion

This study investigates the change in internal stresses of ion nitrided and Cr–CrC ion-plasma-coated 20Kh13 steel samples during the incubation period of the droplet impact erosion. To obtain internal stress values, a method based on measuring the deformation (curvature) of the sample along the surface profiles before and after its modification/coating, as well as during the subsequent droplet impact has been applied. The results suggest that the initial droplet impact on the uncoated, nitrided and coated material leads to a sharp increase in the initial internal stress values. The rate of increase in internal stress decreases with the surface damage development and accumulation. The proposed method of stress evaluation can be used in selecting a criterion for comparing the erosion resistance of a material and a method for modifying its surface.