This paper presents the findings of a study conducted to assess the potential and suitability of using Malaysia's local sand as proppant using impingement tests. Eight sand samples were obtained from eight different locations in Malaysia; three samples from West Coastal beaches (Selangor) and five from East Coastal beaches (Kelantan). Preliminary characteristic and physical properties of samples were analysed, followed by impingement tests. The impingement tests were conducted by varying several parameters i.e. size ranges of sand, type of targeted metal, and distance of nozzle standoff from target. In these tests, air was fed through a 4 m acrylic pipe with inner diameter of 8 mm at gas velocity of 100 m/s and flow rate of 200 1/min. Sand samples of 250 g were fed in compressed air stream and projected toward targeted metal i.e. mild steel and aluminium with a 90° of impingement angle. These tests were conducted at different separation distances of 0.5, 2.5 and 5.0 inches between the nozzle and the target. The results were analysed by measuring the mass loss of the metals after impingement and the images of the impinged metals were captured using a camera. All sand samples met the characteristic and physical properties standard of proppant, except for sample 6. While for the impingement tests, the highest metal loss was obtained when the targeted metal was impacted with the largest size range of sand samples. The mass loss of mild steel ranged between 0.03 to 0.16 g and 0.10 to 0.22 g for aluminium; at variable distances between the nozzle and metal target due to higher hardness of mild steel than aluminium. The mass loss reduced when the distance between nozzle and metal target increased due to energy loss through interparticle collision.
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