The E-clip railway fastening system is a mature fastening system that can be used with almost all kinds of rail sections, and it is widely applied in railway projects around the world. A complete E-clip fastening system is composed of two elastic rail clips, two rail shoulders, one rail pad and two rail insulators.
Chemical Composition of E-Clip Steel
The E-clip can be manufactured from several spring steel grades. The chemical composition limits are shown in percent below.
| Element | 60Si2MnA | 60Si2CrA | 55Si2Mn | 38Si7 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carbon C | 0.56-0.64 | 0.56-0.64 | 0.52-0.60 | 0.35-0.42 |
| Manganese Mn | 0.60-0.90 | 0.40-0.70 | 0.60-0.90 | 0.50-0.80 |
| Silicon Si | 1.50-2.00 | 1.40-1.80 | 1.50-2.00 | 1.50-1.80 |
| Chromium Cr | max 0.35 | 0.70-1.00 | max 0.35 | not specified |
| Phosphorus P | max 0.03 | max 0.03 | max 0.03 | max 0.03 |
| Sulfur S | max 0.03 | max 0.03 | max 0.03 | max 0.03 |
Mechanical Requirements
The hardness of the rail E-clip is 44 to 48 HRC. The fatigue life is 3 to 5 million cycles without breaking, depending on the bar diameter, so the clip maintains a stable clamping force under long-term repeated loading.
Surface Treatment Options
Plain oiled
Oxygen black
Zinc plated
Hot-dip galvanized
Dacro coating
Color painting
Standards Compliance
E-clips can be manufactured to UIC, AREMA, BS, RDSO, DIN, JIS, ISCR, VALEC, GOSTR-EASC and GB/T standards or other requirements specified by the project.
System Components and Their Roles
Elastic rail clip: presses the rail base onto the pad with the required toe load
Rail shoulder: transfers the clamping force and lateral load to the sleeper
Rail pad: provides elasticity, insulation and load distribution
Rail insulator: electrically isolates the clip and rail from the shoulder
Quality Control and Packing
Each batch of rail clips is checked for quantity, quality and marking before leaving the factory. Batch and classification packing with clear markings helps customers move the product into the warehouse and start on-site construction quickly.
Frequently Asked Questions
What hardness does the rail E-clip have? The E-clip is supplied with a hardness of 44 to 48 HRC.
What is the fatigue life of the E-clip? The fatigue life is 3 to 5 million cycles without breaking, depending on the bar diameter.
Which steel grades are used for E-clips? Common grades are 60Si2MnA, 60Si2CrA, 55Si2Mn and 38Si7.
What components make up an E-clip fastening system? complete system has two elastic clips, two rail shoulders, one rail pad and two rail insulators.
Which standards can E-clips meet? UIC, AREMA, BS, RDSO, DIN, JIS, ISCR, VALEC, GOSTR-EASC and GB/T, or other project-specific requirements.
