A rail pad is inserted in between the rail and baseplate or sleeper. Rail pad is introduced to the railway fastening system because of its resilience or viscoelasticity which can be implemented in the intervention of fatigue cracking of sleepers. The dynamic stress from the wheel or rail impact from both regular and irregular movements is attenuated.
What are the common materials for rail pads?
Common rail pad materials include Rubber (natural, SBR, EPDM) for excellent shock absorption, Polyurethane (PU) for durability, and rigid plastics like HDPE (High-Density Polyethylene) and EVA (Ethylene Vinyl Acetate) for high load capacity, often blended or used in micro-foamed forms (TPEE, TPV) to balance elasticity, wear resistance, and vibration damping for various railway needs like high-speed or heavy haul.
| 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) |
| 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 |
| 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) |
What are the benefits of using EVA and HDPE rubber to manufacture rail elastic pads?
Using EVA (Ethylene-Vinyl Acetate) and HDPE (High-Density Polyethylene) in rail pads provides excellent vibration/noise dampening, protects sleepers from impact, distributes loads, resists aging/weather/chemicals, offers electrical insulation, and extends track life, combining the elasticity of rubber with the durability and cost-effectiveness of plastics for safer, quieter, and longer-lasting railways.
Material Durability:
- EVA: Offers great elasticity, low-temperature flexibility, and shock absorption.
- HDPE: Provides high strength, wear resistance, and good thermal/weather resistance.
- Combined: Synthetic rubber/plastic blends offer superior aging, heat, and chemical resistance compared to natural rubber.
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.