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Cavitation damage in dilute polymer solutions

Abstract

HERE we report that the addition of small quantities of high molecular weight, water-soluble polymers to water (in our case polyacrylamide) increases the rate of vibratory cavitation erosion of copper. This result, together with that of Kudin1, who obtained an enhanced rate of jet cutting after a similar addition, strengthens the analogy drawn between the two processes, and indicates that microjets may play a significant role in cavitation damage. These results may well be relevant for rain erosion, a process often compared with cavitation and jet cutting.

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ASHWORTH, V., PROCTER, R. Cavitation damage in dilute polymer solutions. Nature 258, 64–66 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1038/258064a0

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