What materials are rail pads made of?
Rail pads are made from various elastic and plastic materials like rubber (natural, SBR, Neoprene), HDPE (High-Density Polyethylene), EVA (Ethylene-Vinyl Acetate), and advanced composites like thermoplastic elastomers (TPE/TPV), chosen for their ability to absorb shock, dampen vibration, reduce noise, and protect sleepers/ballast, extending track life.
Common Materials:
- Rubber: Natural rubber, Styrene-Butadiene Rubber (SBR), Chloroprene (Neoprene) offer high elasticity, resilience, and resistance to wear, ideal for shock absorption.
| Rubber Rail Pad | ||
| Technical Parameter | Unit | Value |
| Stiffness | KN | 90-130 |
| Hardness Shore A | ℃ | 72-80 degree |
| Electronic Resistance | Ω | ≥ 106 |
| Tensile Strength before Aging | Mpa | ≥12.5 |
| Elongation before Aging | % | ≥250 |
- Plastics: HDPE and EVA provide good cushioning, stability, and environmental resistance, often combined with rubber.
| HDPE Rail Pad | |||
| Technical Parameter | Unit | Technical Requirement | Value |
| Density | g/cm3 | 0.95-0.98 | 0.95 |
| Tensile Strength | Mpa | ≥19 | 19 |
| Elongation | % | >80 | 150 |
| Melting Point | ℃ | 170-190 | 190 |
| Insulation Resistance | Ω | ≥1×1010 | 3.5 ×1010 |
| Hardness | A | ≥98 | 98(A) |
| EVA: Polyethylene 80%, Vinyl Acetate 20%. | |||
| Technical Parameter | Unit | Technical Requirement | Value |
| Density | g/cm3 | 0.95-0.98 | 0.95 |
| Tensile Strength | Mpa | ≥15 | 16 |
| Elongation | % | >500 | 550 |
| Melting Point | ℃ | 170-190 | 170 |
| Insulation Resistance | Ω | ≥1×1010 | 5.0 ×1010 |
| Hardness | A | ≥90 | 92(A) |
- TPV (Thermoplastic Vulcanizate) & TPEE: Micro-foamed or dynamic vulcanizate types offer excellent dynamic performance, durability, and flexibility.
- Nylon (PA 6): Used for its high mechanical strength and wear resistance in some applications.
Rail pad functions
A rail rubber pad is essential in reducing shock and vibration in a rail system. The pad laid under the rail to ensure:
Load distribution over a larger surface
Elimination of load concentration and the resultant fatigue stresses
Centering of loads on the supporting element
Absorption of uneven contact surfaces between rail and support
Reduction of noise and vibration
Sealing between the bottom of the rail and the top of the support
Reduction of wear of the rail and its support
GNEE RAILWAY RAILWAY equips 130sets machines' rail pad production line, for processing, injection, refining rubber, sulfuration , moulding and inspection etc. We have our own rail pad development engineers, designing, producing and inspecting, our annual production capacity reaching up to 2000, 000 pieces. What's more, rail pads for high-peed rail are our featured products, including both the elastic rubber plates and height adjustment pads.
Features of Rubber Rail Pad from GNEE RAILWAY RAILWAY
- Shock absorption, ageing resistance, abrasion resistance, stability, thermal stress resistibility. Rubber rail pads are made of natural rubber, butadiene-styrene rubber, chloroprene rubber adhesive, HDPE and EVA. The rubber rail pads made by GNEE RAILWAY RAILWAY has many features like high elasticity, non-deformation and non-breaking in a large range of temperatures.
- Long service life, low maintenance and replacement costs.
We can produce various standards of rubber rail pads with different materials, the rubber rail pads are suitable for wooden railway sleepers, concrete railway sleepers and steel railway sleepers.