Damage level evaluation of zircon samples caused by cavitation erosion using image analysis

Abstract

This study is focused on monitoring the degradation level of zircon based ceramic materials during exposure to cavitation. In addition to conventional degradation monitoring methods, weight loss measuring, the emphasis is on monitoring the changes occurring at the surface of the sample by taking the photos and analyzing of these images. In this paper, several parameters are monitored by image analysis: the level of surface degradation, the number of pits, and the average area of the pits. This method proved to be very fast and useful for a quantification of damage which could improve the prediction of the material lifetime.