What are track pads made of?
Nov 25, 2025
What are track pads made of?
Track rail pads are made from various materials, including natural rubber, synthetic rubbers (like EPDM and SBR), high-density polyethylene (HDPE), and ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA). Some advanced pads, especially for high-speed rail, may use composite materials, such as a combination of rubber and metal, or a hard outer shell with a soft viscoelastic core.
| 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) |
| 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 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 |
Characteristics of Railway Track Padding
1. Strong shock absorption, anti-aging properties, wear resistance, stability, and resistance to high and low temperatures. Products combine natural rubber, styrene-butadiene rubber, neoprene, HDPE, EVA, and high-density polyethylene. They exhibit high elasticity and resist deformation or fracture across various temperatures.
2. Extended service life with low maintenance and replacement costs.
3. Comprehensive range of models suitable for laying various rails (43kg, 50kg, 60kg) and sleepers (wooden, concrete).
4. Excellent load-bearing capacity, vibration damping, and insulation properties. Highly wear-resistant with minimal compression deformation, superior rigidity, aging resistance, and no mud displacement. Long service life and easy installation. Railway rubber pads significantly enhance rolling stock transport capacity, reduce crossing maintenance frequency, and prevent traffic accidents caused by stalled vehicles.
5. Rubber pads offer a service life exceeding three times that of traditional track plates. Testing confirms stable performance without deformation under applied pressures exceeding 80 tons. Manufactured primarily from rubber using scientific formulations and advanced production techniques, these pads meet railway speed enhancement and environmental requirements while boosting locomotive transport capacity.
Manufacturing Process
| • | Preparation of rubber compound |
| • | Mixing is carried out on a two-roll mill or in an internal mixer. In the case of an internal mixer, it can be done in a single-stage or double-stage mixing where the masterbatch, which was earlier prepared in the internal mixer, is finalized by adding curatives on a two roll mill. |
| • | Shaping and curing |
| • | Compression or Injection moulding |
| • | Trimming of finished products |
| • | Ready for use |
As a professional rubber rail pad manufacturer GNEE RAIL can produce various standards of rubber rail pads and other rail fasteners. If you want to build a railway line, do not hesitate to contact us, we can supply all types of rubber rail pads with different materials. If necessary, we can make customized rubber rail pad production.
