The performance of top-of-rail products under water contamination

• Published in: Tribology international Vol. 188; p. 108872
• Main Authors: Skurka, Simon, Galas, Radovan, Omasta, Milan, Wu, Bingnan, Ding, Haohao, Wang, Wen-Jian, Krupka, Ivan, Hartl, Martin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.10.2023
• Subjects: Friction modification; Low adhesion; Water contamination; Wheel-rail tribology; Friction modification; Wheel-rail tribology; Low adhesion; Water contamination
• ISSN: 0301-679X; 1879-2464
• DOI: 10.1016/j.triboint.2023.108872

Top-of-rail products are commonly used for friction modification in wheel-rail contact. However, the effect of environmental conditions and contaminants on their performance remains unclear. In this study, three commercial top-of-rail products were contaminated by different amounts of water. The laboratory tribometer in ball-on-disc configuration was used to measure the coefficient of adhesion in contaminated contact. The results show that water influenced tested top-of-rail products significantly. A very low coefficient of adhesion occurred in tests with oil-based top-of-rail products suggesting that water could cause traction problems on the actual railway where friction modification is being used. Water-based top-of-rail products showed more resistance to water contamination. [Display omitted] •A laboratory tribometer was used for the coefficient of adhesion (CoA) measurements.•Water had strong influence on the performance of tested top-of-rail (TOR) products.•Contamination of TOR products caused a long-lasting drop in CoA (lower than 0.05).•The results should be taken into account for further TOR product development.•Contamination of TOR products could cause traction problems on the actual railway.