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.
| 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. |
The role of railway pads in railways
Railway pads are elastic mats placed between rails and sleepers (ties) to absorb shock, reduce vibration and noise, distribute wheel loads over a larger area, and protect track components from wear, significantly extending infrastructure lifespan and improving passenger comfort by cushioning impacts and preventing sleeper damage. They also provide electrical insulation, protecting signaling systems, and improve overall track stability.
![rail fasteners\](/uploads/39962/info/p20251224164025c1883.png?size=450x0 "rail fasteners\")
What causes rail elastic pad aging?
Rail elastic pad aging is caused by mechanical stress (impacts, vibrations, wheel loads), environmental factors (UV, extreme temperatures, moisture), and chemical exposure (hydrocarbons from lubricants), leading to progressive hardening, cracking, material loss, and reduced elasticity, which compromises vibration dampening and track safety.
Key Aging Factors:
- Mechanical Loading: Constant high-intensity impacts from wheel flats, rail defects, heavy axle loads, and vibrations gradually deteriorate the pad's structure, increasing its stiffness and reducing its cushioning ability over time.
- Temperature Extremes: Very low temperatures cause hardening and brittleness, making pads prone to cracking, while high temperatures can accelerate degradation.
- UV Radiation: Sunlight exposure can decrease pad stiffness and negatively affect material properties, especially in lower exposure conditions.
- Chemical Contamination: Hydrocarbons (oils, lubricants) can cause material swelling or stiffness changes, depending on the pad's polymer type (EPDM, EVA).
- Moisture & Dirt Trapping: Gaps between the pad and rail/sleeper trap water and dust, accelerating corrosion and material breakdown, and concentrating loads.
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.