Friction and wear characteristics of coal slurries in transportation and atomization/firing systems are areas of concern in considering their use as substitutes for neat liquid fuels. The main wear phenomena encountered in slurry fuel usage are erosive and sliding wear of metal surfaces in contact with the coal slurry. Laboratory experiments have been devised and carried out to characterize and better understand these slurry wear mechanisms. The dependence of wear on the characteristics of the coal slurry and the properties of the wear surfaces have been studied. Coal slurries prepared from an Ohio coal desulfurized using a novel perchloroethylene extraction process have been studied. A Cameron-Flint reciprocating slider tribometer has been used to study sliding wear phenomena. Erosive wear has been investigated using an impingement type wear tester. The importance of impingement angle of coal slurry on platelet formation during erosion has been determined. Results of This angle corresponding to peak erosion is lover than for the softer 1020 steel, and can be attributed to the hardness of the steels.