A rail pad, also called rail rubber plate, is designed between the rail tie plate and foot of the rail, made by an elastic polyurethane mat, which is interposed between steel rails and tie sleepers to protect the sleeper top from wearing and impacting. Its defined stiffness is used to increase the elasticity of the superstructure of the ballast and reduce shock and vibration in the rail system.
| 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. |
What damages rail elastic pads?
Rail elastic pads get damaged by excessive load/pressure (heavy/fast trains, tight curves), environmental factors (extreme temps, UV, ozone), contamination (dirt, oil), vibration, improper installation (insufficient clamping), and material aging/defects, leading to fatigue, cracking, loss of elasticity, or physical breakdown, all reducing their life and track performance.
Mechanical Factors
- Overloading/High Stress: Heavy trains, high speeds, and tight curves create immense forces, causing abrasion, bending, and fatigue.
- Vibration & Movement: Constant train movement and rail wobbling (due to loose fasteners) cause rocking, friction, and expulsion of the pad.
- Insufficient Clamping Force: If fasteners aren't tight, the rail can lift and rock, damaging the pad.
Environmental & Chemical Factors
- Temperature Extremes: High heat causes expansion/buckling; cold makes them brittle; prolonged exposure degrades rubber.
- Ozone & UV Exposure: Natural rubber breaks down, dries out, and loses resiliency from sun and ozone.
- Contamination: Dirt, grit, or even oil can get trapped, causing abrasion and chemical breakdown.
Material & Manufacturing Issues
- Material Defects: Poor vulcanization, high permanent deformation, or inherently inferior materials fail faster.
- Aging: All rubber pads degrade over time, losing elasticity and becoming prone to cracking.
How to maintain a railroad pad?
Maintaining a railroad pad involves regular, scheduled inspections for wear (cracks, deformation), ensuring fasteners are tight, keeping the area clear of debris and water, and replacing pads when they exceed performance limits (like 20% compression) to preserve track stability, noise reduction, and safety.
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.