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. There is the added advantage of reducing track maintenance and associated costs.
What types of rail rubber plates are there?
Rail rubber plates (or pads) vary by material (like natural rubber, EVA, HDPE), shape (rectangular, trapezoidal for curves), and application (ballasted vs. non-ballasted tracks, high/low speed), serving to cushion, reduce vibration/noise, and protect rails and sleepers by distributing load and preventing wear.
Types by Material
- Rubber (Natural/Synthetic): Traditional, durable pads providing excellent cushioning and vibration dampening.
| 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 (Ethylene-Vinyl Acetate): A blend (around 80% Polyethylene, 20% Vinyl Acetate) offering good elasticity and impact absorption, often with high-density polyethylene (HDPE).
| 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) |
- HDPE (High-Density Polyethylene): Known for high insulation resistance and durability, used in various rail fastening systems.
| 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) |
What are the characteristics of rail rubber pads?
Rail rubber pads are characterized by excellent shock/vibration absorption, high elasticity, and resistance to wear, aging, and extreme temperatures, made from materials like natural/synthetic rubber or plastics (HDPE, EVA) to cushion the rail-sleeper interface, prolong track life, reduce noise, and distribute loads effectively for safer, more efficient rail transport.
Key Characteristics:
- Shock & Vibration Damping: They absorb impacts, reducing noise and protecting both the rail and sleeper from fatigue, essential for high-speed and heavy-haul lines.
- High Elasticity & Resilience: Maintain close contact with the rail and distribute loads, preventing crushing of sleepers and ensuring stability.
- Durability & Wear Resistance: Highly resistant to abrasion from traffic, ensuring a long service life, often triple that of traditional pads.
- Environmental Resistance: Withstand high and low temperatures, natural aging, and frost without significant deformation or fracture.
- Good Insulation: Provide electrical insulation, preventing current leakage.
- Load Distribution: Spread the load from the rail foot over a wider area on the sleeper.
GNEE RAIL provides exceptional elastic rail pads of various types for high-speed railways, normal-speed railways, and cranes. Especially the rail pads made of rubber, EVA, TPEE, and HDPE are very popular with customers. Our railway rubber pads fit the rails such as UIC54, UIC60, BS80lbs, BS100lbs, etc. We have more than 130set of machines in our production lines which can reach an annual production capacity of up to 2000, 000 pieces of rail pads. We offer a wide range of rail pads and other track materials at competitive prices.