Rails are an important component of railway tracks. They are high carbon rolled steel sections. These sections are laid end-to-end in two parallel lines over sleepers. This provides a continuous and levelled surface for trains to move. It also helps in carrying axle loads of the rolling stock.
What is the composition of railway steel?
Railway steel is primarily a high-carbon, manganese steel, with key elements being Carbon (0.6-0.8%) for strength, Manganese (0.7-1.3%) for toughness, and Silicon (0.1-0.5%) for density, while keeping harmful impurities like Phosphorus (P) and Sulfur (S) very low (under 0.05%) to prevent brittleness, often with added Chromium, Vanadium, or Niobium for enhanced wear resistance, especially in harder grades.
The chemical composition of train track steel:
| No. | Element | Function |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | C | Improve the strength, hardness, and wear resistance of the rail. The carbon content of domestic rails is 0.65% to 0.82%. When the carbon content is relatively high, the steel becomes brittle, and its plasticity index will be significantly reduced. At the same time, it will increase the chance of white spots in the steel. |
| 2 | Si | It is easy to combine with oxidation and can play the role of removing bubbles in the metal. The steel contains an appropriate amount of silicon, which can improve the hardness and wear resistance of the steel. The content of domestic rail steel is generally 0159-0.9%, but too much content will make the steel hard and brittle, and it is easy to produce pores in the weld. |
| 3 | Mn | It is a beneficial element that can improve the strength and wear resistance of steel and increase the toughness of steel. It can remove harmful iron oxide and sulfide inclusions in the steel. The manganese content is generally controlled between 0.6% and 1.54%. Steel with a manganese content of more than 1.2% is called medium manganese steel, and its wear resistance is very high. |
| 4 | Cu | It is a beneficial element. Steel contains a small number of copper compounds, which can improve the fatigue resistance and corrosion resistance of steel. The copper content of domestic steel rails is generally between 0.10% and 0.40%. If the rolling process of the copper-containing rail is not good, fish-like cracks will occur on the surface of the rail |
| 5 | P | It is a harmful element. The biggest hazard of phosphide is to reduce the plasticity and toughness of the steel. Especially at low temperatures, the cold brittleness of the steel increases, which easily leads to broken rails, and its content is controlled at no more than 0.04% |
| 6 | S | The sulfur is a harmful element. It is often left in the steel in the form of granules. When the rail is rolled, it is rolled together with the steel into sheets, which causes delamination or longitudinal cracks in the rail. The amount of sulfur is controlled at no more than 0.05% |
What are the advantages of using U71Mn to manufacture steel rails?
U71Mn steel offers significant advantages for rails, primarily its high strength, excellent wear resistance, and superior fatigue performance, making it ideal for heavy-duty use in high-speed railways and crane systems by reducing deformation, extending service life (often >30% longer), and lowering maintenance costs, thanks to its carbon-manganese composition and optimized heat treatment.
| Steel Grade | C(%) | Si | Mn | Cr | V | P | S | Tensile Strength (Rm/MPa) |
| U71Mn | 0.65~0.76 | 0.15~0.58 | 0.70~1.40 | – | – | ≤0.035 | ≤0.030 | ≥880 |
- Exceptional Wear Resistance: The steel's composition and heat treatment create a hard surface (HB 300-350), resisting abrasion from heavy loads and frequent wheel contact.
- High Strength & Stability: High tensile strength (≥900MPa) and uniform hardness ensure it withstands significant dynamic loads and impacts, preventing plastic deformation and maintaining track stability.
- Superior Fatigue Life: Optimized microstructure provides excellent fatigue resistance, minimizing cracks and extending the rail's lifespan significantly, reducing replacement frequency.
- Reduced Maintenance: Longer life and better wear characteristics mean less frequent maintenance, lowering operational costs.
As a professional rail fastener supplier, GNEE RAIL can provide different standard steel rail such as American, BS, UIC, DIN, JIS, Australian and South Africa which used in railway lines, cranes and coal mining.
| Classification | Height(mm) | Head (mm) | Bottom (mm) | Thick(mm) | Weight (kg/m) | |
| Light Rail | 8 KG/M | 65 | 25 | 54 | 7 | 8.42 |
| 9 KG/M | 63.5 | 32.1 | 63.5 | 5.9 | 8.94 | |
| 12 KG/M | 69.85 | 38.1 | 69.85 | 7.54 | 12.2 | |
| 15 KG/M | 79.37 | 42.86 | 79.37 | 8.33 | 15.2 | |
| 18 KG/M | 80 | 40 | 80 | 10 | 18.06 | |
| 22 KG/M | 93.66 | 50.8 | 93.66 | 10.72 | 22.3 | |
| 24 KG/M | 107 | 51 | 90 | 10.9 | 24.46 | |
| 30 KG/M | 107.95 | 60.33 | 107.95 | 12.3 | 30.1 | |
| Heavy Rail | 38 KG/M | 134 | 68 | 114 | 13 | 38.733 |
| 43 KG/M | 140 | 70 | 114 | 14.5 | 44.653 | |
| 45 KG/M | 145 | 67 | 126 | 14.5 | 45.546 | |
| 50 KG/M | 152 | 70 | 132 | 15.5 | 51.514 | |
| 60 KG/M | 176 | 73 | 150 | 16.5 | 60.64 | |
| Crane Rail | QU 70 | 120 | 70 | 120 | 28 | 52.8 |
| QU 80 | 130 | 80 | 130 | 32 | 63.69 | |
| QU 100 | 150 | 100 | 150 | 38 | 88.96 | |
| QU 120 | 170 | 120 | 170 | 44 | 118.1 | |
