A pin-on-disc study of airborne wear particles from dry sliding wheel-rail contacts

• Pin-on-disc laboratory tests were carried out to identify the generation of airborne wear particles in wheel-rail contacts under different sliding velocities. The results show that the sliding velocity significantly influences both the number and size distribution of airborne wear particles. A comparison of the contact temperature was obtained during tests. For tests with high sliding velocities (1.2 and 3.4 m/s), the particle number concentration level was related to the elevated contact temperature in selected time intervals. Moreover, morphological and elemental analyses of collected particles and pin worn surfaces were studied by using a scanning electron microscope and field emission-scanning electron microscope. The data suggests that the oxide layers were detected within the pin's worn surfaces and an abundant presence of iron-oxide containing particles was observed. Therefore, it can be concluded that abundant fine and ultrafine airborne particles are more likely to be produced from an oxidative wear process in a wheel-rail contact under high sliding velocities.

Ämnesord

TEKNIK OCH TEKNOLOGIER  -- Materialteknik (hsv//swe)

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY  -- Materials Engineering (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Airborne wear particles

Contact temperature

Iron oxide containing particles

Oxidative wear

Particle number concentration

Scanning electron microscope

Wheel-rail contact

Electron emission

Plastics fillers

Scanning

Scanning electron microscopy

Vehicle wheels

Velocity

Wheels

Airborne wears

Wheel-rail contacts

Iron oxides

Publikations- och innehållstyp

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