Study on the prospects for the use of lubricants produced by Fuchs Lubritech GmbH on the Ukrainian railways in “wheel of rolling stock-rail” tribocoupling

Abstract

Controlling friction and wear of rolling stock wheels and rails is a very urgent task for railway workers and scientists in many countries of the world, including Ukraine. The use of lubrication of the wheel-rail friction pair is rather a promising way to solve this problem, and the success of the solution depends significantly on the choice of an effective lubricant. The article considers the results of study of Locolub ECO and Tramlub F 234 MOD 2 greases, taking into account the prospects for their use in locomotive wheel flange lubricators that are operated in the Ukrainian railway. The results of laboratory and operational tests of these greases in comparison with the currently used Relsol lubricant are presented and analyzed. Quite high tribological characteristics of Locolub and Tramlub lubricants and their compliance with the operating conditions of rolling stock, wheel flange lubricators and track lubricators are noted. Based on the results of operational tests, recommendations are given on the prospects for the use of the studied lubricants in the Ukrainian railway transport.