Rail pads are elastic polyurethane mats which are interposed between steel rails and railway sleepers to protect the sleeper top from wearing and impacting.
A range of high-performance elastic rail pads have been developed for stiffness requirements and various application areas-from trams through standard gauge railways to heavy haul lines, this especially suitable for E-type rail fastening systems and SKL-type rail fastening system with material of HDPE/EVA/Rubber, the following parameters for reference.
| Raw Material | Rubber, EVA, TPEE, HDPE |
| Standard | UIC, AREMA, TB/T2626-95 |
| Application | 43kg/m, 50kg/m, 60kg/m, 75kg/m,115RE, UIC54, UIC60, S49 |
| Model number | 43-7-7, 43-10-7, 50-7-9, 50-10-9, 60-10-17, 60-12-17 |
| Operating temperature | -50~70 degrees |
| Certificate | MSDS, ROHS, REACH |
| Notes | They should be stored in a clean, ventilated place. Don't be in direct sunlight, and keep away from the heat source and chemical reagent. Don't touch the oil, organic solvent, and other chemicals. Banned exposure. |
Material selection for rail pads: Which is better, polyurethane or rubber?
For rail pads, Polyurethane (PU) is generally superior to rubber for high-performance, long-term applications due to its excellent wear resistance, higher load capacity, and better durability against oils/ozone, while rubber excels in initial cost and superior noise/vibration dampening, making it good for general use; PU offers better long-term value despite higher upfront cost.
Polyurethane Advantages (PU):
- Durability: Significantly better abrasion resistance (3-5x rubber) and resistance to oils, greases, ozone, and UV.
- Load Bearing: Higher strength, less prone to deflection, and maintains properties under heavy, repeated loads.
- Longevity: Longer service life (8-10 years vs. 5-6 for rubber), reducing replacement frequency and long-term costs.
- Performance: Offers stable support and vibration buffering, ideal for high-speed and heavy-haul lines.
Rubber Advantages:
- Vibration/Noise: Better at dampening vibrations and suppressing noise.
- Cost: Lower initial purchase price.
- Flexibility: Natural flexibility can offer good initial impact resistance.
When to Choose Which:
- Choose PU for: High-speed rail, heavy-haul lines, extreme conditions, long-term cost savings, or where oil/chemical resistance is needed.
- Choose Rubber for: Lower-speed lines, general applications where initial cost is primary, or where maximum noise dampening is the priority.
What are the uses of an elastic rail pad?
Elastic rail pads are crucial railway components placed between the rail and sleeper (tie) to reduce vibration, noise, and impact, distribute wheel loads, prevent abrasion, and provide electrical insulation, significantly extending the life of the track structure, reducing maintenance, and improving passenger comfort by absorbing shock and damping rail movement.
As a professional rail fastener manufacturer, GNEE RAIL can produce various types of rubber rail pads with different materials, such as natural rubber, EVA, HDPE and so on. In railway fastening system, rubber rail pads are often installed between the rail tracks and the concrete railway sleepers.