The present invention is directed to a method for protecting
metal surfaces in oil & gas exploration and production,
refinery and
petrochemical process applications subject to
solid particulate
erosion at temperatures of up to 1000° C. The method includes the step of providing the
metal surfaces in such applications with a hot
erosion resistant
cermet lining or insert, wherein the
cermet lining or insert includes a) about 30 to about 95 vol % of a
ceramic phase, and b) a
metal binder phase, wherein the
cermet lining or insert has a HEAT
erosion resistance index of at least 5.0 and a K1C
fracture toughness of at least 7.0 MPa-m 1 / 2. The metal surfaces may also be provided with a hot erosion resistant cermet
coating having a HEAT
erosion resistance index of at least 5.0. Advantages provided by the method include, inter alia, outstanding high temperature erosion and
corrosion resistance in combination with outstanding
fracture toughness, as well as outstanding
thermal expansion compatibility to the
base metal of process units. The method finds particular application for protecting process vessels, transfer lines and process
piping, heat exchangers, cyclones, slide valve gates and guides, feed nozzles,
aeration nozzles, thermo wells, valve bodies, internal risers, deflection shields, sand screen, and oil
sand mining equipment.