A multi-functional friction and wear testing machine was used to test the pin disk wear of high-speed railway brake friction material under different disk temperatures (20 °C, 100 °C, and 200 °C) and different ambient humidities (55%, 95%). The test results show that the change in the disk temperature and different ambient humidities have significant effects on the frictional wear performance of the high-speed railway brake material. Under the conditions of 20 °C, 100 °C and 200 °C, the instantaneous friction coefficient and wear rate of the brake material decreased as the ambient humidity increased. The different ambient humidity caused severe surface damage to the brake materials, but the damage mechanisms were dramatically different. At constant temperature, the higher the ambient humidity, the lower the maximum equilibrium temperature of the disc.

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the practicability of the self-designed ambient humidity controllable pin-disc/rolling multifunctional friction and wear test device and to evaluate the friction and wear characteristics of materials under diverse ambient humidity conditions in different contact forms. Design/methodology/approach The practicability of the self-designed multifunctional friction tester was examined by the friction and wear tests of materials under different ambient humidity conditions [65%RH, 98%RH (relative humidity)] in diverse contact forms (pin/disc and rolling). Meanwhile, the friction and wear properties of pin/disc samples also rolling samples were assessed from three aspects: average friction coefficient, wear mass and wear morphology. Findings The results prove that the self-designed multifunctional friction tester has practicability. Therefore, it can be used to simulate the friction and wear tests of materials under diverse ambient humidity conditions in different contact forms. Besides, it is evident that the wear damage of pin/disc and rolling samples are greatly improved under high ambient humidity conditions. And when other conditions are identical, the higher the ambient humidity, the smaller the average friction coefficient, wear mass and wear damage degree of pin/disc also rolling samples. Originality/value This paper offers a self-designed multifunctional friction and wear test device. And the tester not only can realize the control of test ambient humidity, but also achieve the wear test of pin/disc or rolling contact forms. The design and production of the tester can offer convenience for the research of tribology, and provide fundamental guidance for the study of materials under high humidity condition in diverse contact forms.