A Railway Track Fitting Rubber Pad (or rail pad) is an elastic component placed between the steel rail and the concrete sleeper, acting as a shock absorber to reduce vibration, impact, and noise from passing trains, which protects track infrastructure, increases safety, minimizes maintenance, and improves ride comfort.
What is the primary material used in Elastomeric Rail Pad ?
The primary material in elastomeric rail pads is rubber, often natural rubber (like Ribbed Smoked Sheet - RSS) or synthetic variations such as Styrene Butadiene Rubber (SBR) and Poly Butadiene Rubber (PBR), sometimes blended for specific properties, providing cushioning, vibration damping, and electrical insulation between the rail and sleeper.
Key Materials & Types
- Natural Rubber (NR): A traditional choice, known for durability, though often blended.
- Synthetic Rubbers: SBR and PBR are frequently mixed with natural rubber.
- EPDM Rubber: Used for its excellent resistance to weathering, chemicals, and temperature extremes, featuring a stable polymer chain.
- Thermoplastic Elastomers (TPE/TPEE) & Polyurethane (PU): Also used, offering different mechanical properties and flexibility.
- High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) & Ethylene-Vinyl Acetate (EVA): Can also be used, sometimes in combination with rubber.
HDPE
| 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
| 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) |
RUBBER
| 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 |
What types of railways can railway rubber pads be used in?
Railway rubber pads are versatile, used in urban transit (subways, light rail), high-speed railways, heavy-haul lines, and conventional railways, providing vibration/noise damping, shock absorption, and track protection, suitable for concrete or wood sleepers under various rail types (UIC, BS, JIS) and loads. They're crucial for improving comfort, extending track life, and reducing maintenance across diverse railway applications.
Types of Railways & Applications:
- Urban Rail Transit (Subways, Light Rail): Focus on noise and vibration isolation for passenger comfort, using thinner pads.
- High-Speed Railways: Need high elasticity and resilience to handle dynamic loads, often with composite pads.
- Heavy-Haul Lines: Require thicker, more robust pads (12-20mm) to cushion heavy axle loads and reduce ballast wear.
- Conventional Railways: Used on standard tracks for general vibration and wear reduction.
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.
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