The application of different structural materials to manufacture basic parts of drying units of various types was analyzed. It has been established that surface erosion of materials resulting from solid particles' impact is a serious problem for many industrial equipment types using multiphase flow. It is shown that the value of the erosion rate depends on the local particle impact velocity and the impact angle and can be calculated using the software Ansys Fluent 18. The basic principles and criteria for selecting materials for the manufacture of chemical equipment were substantiated. The behavior of steel and polymer material for shelf contact of the convective dryer in the conditions of erosion wear was modeled, the comparative characteristic was made, further research was planned.