Effects of Contact Modes on Wear of Railroad

In this study the wear behavior of rail road steel under rolling with sliding and pure sliding conditions was investigated. Experiments were conducted using a modified linear reciprocating tribometer. Friction and wear were estimated against different conditions. Surface characterization techniques include a scanning electron microscope (SEM) with attached energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) for wear and tribochemical wear studies. It was found that rolling with sliding provided higher friction and wear than pure sliding. The addition of crystalline hydrated sodium borate (Na₂B₄O₇-10H₂O) increased friction in both contact conditions, while there was a significant decrease in the wear volume. This research proposes new friction and wear mechanisms.