Steel rail corrosion and material options

Rusting is very common in our daily life. Rusting as a metal oxidation reaction can be seen almosteverywhere, especially the probability of rust appearing is very high. However, if this rusting chemical reaction appears on steel rails, it will undoubtedly cause certain safety hazards, so this is a safety issue that cannot be ignored.

So how does the railway sector deal with steel rail corrosion? Will they consider using stainless steel rail instead of steel rail?

First of all, steel rails are exposed to the air for many years. In the long days of wind and sun, there will inevitably be rusting, but during the use, the train will pass through rails, and rust will rub on the wheels. The part is worn off.

Stainless Steel Rail or High Manganese Steel Rail

Why not consider replacing the rails with stainless steel material? In fact, in the present, most steel rails in China use high-manganese steel, which is not common steel. This kind of steel has low carbon content, high hardness and toughness, and can withstand gravity and oxidation resistance of train. The reason why railway department did not replace the rails with stainless steel is because stainless steel has the advantage of corrosion resistance, but its strength and alkali resistance are generally low, and it cannot withstand high-strength friction of trains and extreme weather changes.

In addition, railway department will also have relevant staff to carry out regular inspections and maintenance of rails through safety measures such as inspection vehicles. Once the iron rail road is found to be seriously rusted, rusted sections will be divided. In order to divide the bad section, it is generally not serious rust in the train track with high frequency of use.

Steel Rail Rust - No Safety Issues

Although we often see steel rails rusting during daily travel, the rust is generally only on surface, and there is little internal rust. The internal rust process is very slow. In addition, the railway staff will maintain the rails every day, take measures such as oiling to prevent rust and regular inspections. Once the rails are corroded to a certain extent, they will be replaced in time, so you can travel with no worry about the rails rusting becoming a safety hazard.

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