What is a rail pad in track railway?
A rail pad is a crucial cushioning layer, usually rubber or polyurethane, placed between a train's steel rail and its sleeper (tie), designed to absorb shock and vibration, reduce noise, protect components from wear, distribute wheel loads, and provide electrical insulation, thereby extending track life and improving ride comfort.
What is the function of a railway pad?
A railway pad's main function is to cushion, insulate, and distribute loads between the rail and sleeper (tie), reducing vibration, noise, and wear on the track infrastructure, thereby extending its life and improving passenger comfort. These elastic pads absorb shock from passing trains, preventing fatigue cracking in concrete sleepers and ensuring stability by maintaining contact with the rail despite movement.
What materials are rail pads made of?
- Rubber material: Natural rubber, Styrene-butadiene rubber(SBR), Neoprene, Nitrile rubber, EPDM rubber(Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer Rubber)
| 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 |
- Plastic material(HDPE,EVA,Nylon PA 6)
| 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 Elastomer Dynamic Vulcanizate
- Micro-foamed materials(Micro-foamed TPEE,TPU,TPV)
- Micro-foamed thermoplastic elastomer
- Other composite materials
Comparion of EPDE+PP-X / TPE/TPR / TPU
|
Performance |
EPDM+PP-X |
TPE/TPR |
TPU |
||
|
TPV |
TPO |
SBS |
SEBS |
||
|
Tensile Strength |
Δ |
Ο |
Ο |
Ο |
◎ |
|
Compression permanent deformation(100℃,168H) |
◎ |
Ο |
Δ |
Δ |
Δ |
|
Operating temperature(℃) |
-60~135 |
-40~125 |
-20~80 |
-30~110 |
-30~120 |
|
Hot Air Aging (100℃,720H) |
◎ |
Ο |
X |
Δ |
X |
|
Oil Resistance,3#oil (125℃,70H,3#oil) |
◎ |
Δ |
X |
Δ |
Δ |
|
Acid and alkali resistance |
◎ |
Δ |
X |
Δ |
Δ |
|
Processing technology |
◎ |
◎ |
◎ |
◎ |
X |
|
◎:Excellent Ο:Good Δ: Ordinary Χ:Poor |
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GNEE RAIL is equipped with rail pad production lines for 130sets of machines, for the whole process of injection, refining rubber, sulfuration, moulding and inspection, etc. We own the most engineers for rail pad development, design, production and inspection, with annual production capacity reaching up to 2000, 000 pieces. What's more, rail pads for high speed rail lines are our featured products, including both the elastic rubber plates and height adjustment pads.