How to choose the right material for a railroad pad?

The rail pad, also known as bottom plate, is an elastic polyurethane pad assembled between the rails and sleeper to protect the top of the sleeper from wear and impact. The initial stiffness of the rail pad is not so high that the deformation of the rails under the load of the spring is very large. This mechanism ensures that the rail pad moves as close as possible to realize close contact with the track.

 

How to choose the right material for a railroad pad?

 

Choosing the right railroad pad material depends on application (heavy haul vs. high-speed/transit), environment (temp/humidity), and performance needs (vibration, noise, durability), with options like rigid HDPE for heavy freight, resilient rubber (natural/synthetic) for comfort, and balanced EVA for mixed traffic, all adjusted for thickness based on load and required vibration reduction.

 

Key Material Options & Their Uses

 

 

• HDPE (High-Density Polyethylene): Best for heavy-haul freight; provides high stiffness, load bearing, and wear resistance, preventing rail tilt.

 

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)

 

• Rubber (Natural/Synthetic): Ideal for high-speed, urban, or passenger lines; offers excellent shock absorption, vibration damping, and comfort, with specific types for hot (chloroprene) or cold (nitrile) climates.

 

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 versatile middle ground for mixed traffic; balances moderate damping with good durability.

 

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)

 

• Rubber-Metal Composites: For extreme heavy loads (mining); the metal layer boosts bearing capacity.

 

How to Choose Railway Pad?

 

 

 

• Define Needs: Determine train type (freight/passenger), speed, load, and primary environmental challenges (heat, cold, wet).

 

• Match Material: Select HDPE for stiffness, Rubber for comfort/shock, EVA for balance, or Composites for extreme loads.

 

• Specify Thickness: Thicker for more damping/load, thinner for standard use, adjusting for environment.

 

GNEE RAIL is equipped with rail pad production lines for 130sets of machines, for the whole process of injection, refining rubber, sulfuration, moulding and inspection, etc. We own the most engineers for rail pad development, design, production and inspection, with annual production capacity reaching up to 2000, 000 pieces.

 

Our EVA/HDPE/rubber rail pads are with high elasticity, applying to types for rails such as rail UIC54, UIC60, BS80lbs,BS100lbs, and sizes as ordered. The pads can be customized with or without grooves, in various possible designs, depending on customers' requirements.

 

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