Among the many specifications of rails, 8KG light rails often attract attention for their relatively low prices. This is mainly due to the following key factors.
From the perspective of material cost, the 8KG light rail has a nominal weight of only about 8KG per meter, which greatly reduces the total amount of steel consumed compared to heavy rails and some larger models of light rails. Moreover, 8KG light rails mostly use ordinary carbon structural steels such as Q235. This type of steel has a mature smelting process, a wide range of raw materials, and a relatively low price, which gives it a cost advantage in the material procurement link.
| Q235B | Mechanical property | Chemical composition(%) | |||||||||
| Yield strength | Tensile strength | Elongation | Hardness | C | Si | Mn | S | P | |||
| MPa | kg/mm² | MPa | kg/mm² | min | HB | ≤ | ≤ | ≤ | |||
| ≥ | ≥ | ||||||||||
| 235 | 24 | 375-460 | 38-47 | 26% | 0.12-0.22 | 0.35 | 0.30-0.70 | 0.045 | 0.045 | ||
In the manufacturing process, the production process of 8KG light rails is relatively simple. It has lower requirements on the accuracy and strength of production equipment than heavy rails, and does not require extremely complex and high-end rolling and forging equipment, which reduces the cost of equipment purchase and maintenance. At the same time, the simple process shortens the production process, improves production efficiency, and can produce more products per unit time, further diluting the production cost.
8KG light rail is mainly used for laying temporary transportation lines and light locomotive lines in forest areas, mining areas, factories and construction sites. Its use scenario determines that its quality requirements are relatively low. It only requires the inspection of basic indicators such as chemical composition, tensile strength, hardness and drop hammer test. It does not need to meet strict quality standards like heavy rails, which reduces the cost investment in quality inspection and control to a certain extent.
The market supply and demand relationship also affects the price. Since the application scenario of 8KG light rail is relatively specific and its market demand is limited, a large number of manufacturers will not focus their main efforts on it. The market competition is relatively mild, and the price will not be raised due to excessive competition, but it will not rise sharply due to scarcity, and it will remain at a relatively stable and low level.
In summary, the combined effect of multiple factors such as materials, processes, quality requirements and market supply and demand has created the current situation where 8KG light rail is relatively cheap among steel rail specifications.