Full definition
Material loss caused by repeated impingement of particles against a surface at moderate to high impact angles (>45°), the dominant wear mechanism at conveyor loading zones, crusher discharge points, cyclone feeds, and mill discharge areas in mining operations. In impact wear, resilience (the ability to absorb and return impact energy elastically) is more important than hardness — this is why natural rubber (NR, resilience ~80%) outperforms hardened steel (resilience <5%) by 5-10x in impact wear applications. When a hard particle strikes a resilient rubber surface, the rubber deforms, absorbs the kinetic energy, and returns to shape without material loss; the same impact on steel causes plastic deformation and micro-cutting. NR at 35-55 Shore A is optimal for impact wear — softer compounds absorb more energy but may tear; harder compounds lose resilience advantage. Applications: transfer chute linings, hopper impact zones, cyclone feed boxes, mill feed and discharge, and conveyor impact idler rings. For combined impact + sliding abrasion, rubber-backed ceramic composite tiles provide the best solution: ceramic face resists sliding abrasion while rubber backing absorbs impact energy. Per ASTM G76 (erosion testing) and field wear rate measurement (mm/year or mm/1000 hours).