Citation

Beagley TM, McEwen IJ, Pritchard C. Wear 1975; 31(1): 77-88.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1975, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/0043-1648(75)90123-4

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Oils on rails are present in minute quantities and are found to be complex mixtures containing an unusually high proportion of chemically active compounds. Laboratory experiments are described which study how such oils and related compounds affect friction when present in surface concentrations similar to those found on the track. The friction is sensitive to small changes in the quantities present, and this gives an explanation why adhesion varies on dry rails. All types of fluid give similar results. Simple mixtures can be dominated by an active, low-friction component but the friction of oils appears to be an "average" of their many components. High humidity during specimen preparation promotes lower friction. It is suggested this is due to its effect on the physical properties of the oxide formed on the steel surface.