Effect of humidity on the tribological behaviour and airborne particle emissions of railway brake block materials. (February 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lyu, Yezhe; Bergseth, Ellen; Tu, Minghui; Olofsson, Ulf
• Is Part Of: Tribology international. Volume 118(2018)
• Page Start: 360
• Page End: 367
• Publication Date: 2018-02
• Subjects: Airborne particles -- Pin-on-disc -- Humidity -- Brake block; Tribology -- Periodicals; 621.89
• DOI: 10.1016/j.triboint.2017.10.011
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0301-679X

Abstract

Abstract: A pin-on-disc tribometer placed in a one-way ventilated chamber was used to investigate the effect of relative humidity on the tribology and airborne particle emission of three commercial railway brake block materials (grey cast iron, organic composite, and sintered). Cast iron showed the highest friction coefficient, particle emission and wear loss and organic composite exhibited the lowest. The generation of oxide layers on the worn cast iron surface resulted in a decrease in friction, particle emission and wear. Moisture adsorption by the organic composite leads to decreased friction coefficient and particle emission with increasing humidity. Relative humidity does not affect the friction coefficient of the sintered brake block, whose particle emission and wear loss significantly decline with increasing relative humidity. Highlights: Effect of humidity on tribology and particle emission from block brakes is studied. Cast iron showed the highest friction coefficient, particle emission and wear loss. Organic composite showed the lowest friction, particle emission and wear. Relative humidity does not affect the friction of the sintered brake block. Particle emission and wear of sintered decline with increasing relative humidity.