What material is a rail clip made of?
Dec 29, 2025
As one of the common railway fasteners in rail fastening system, elastic railway clips are made of forged spring steel and have many applications in railroad. No matter as a part of railway fastening system or as a railway fastener, elastic railway clips are used together with other railway components, such as rail spike, rail tie plate, rail pad and rail plastic dowel. In the railway fastening system, the main function of railway clip is fastening railway sleeper and steel rail together. The railway clip is considered as one of the best ways to ensure that steel rails not move, bend, warp, or rot. There are data shows that each elastic railway clip can bear about two tons of force upon a railway track.
What material is a rail clip made of?
Rail clips, especially elastic ones, are primarily made from forged spring steel (like 60Si2MnA, 55Si7, 38Si7) for high strength, elasticity, and fatigue resistance, using hot forging for uniform microstructure, but sometimes high-strength or composite materials are also used, depending on the specific rail system.
Key Materials:
- Spring Steels: The most common, these specialized steels (e.g., 60Si2MnA, 55Si2Mn) provide the necessary resilience and strength to hold rails securely.
| Material | 60Si2MnA | 60Si2CrA | 55Si2Mn | 38Si7 |
| Chemical composition(%) | C:0.56-0.64, Mn:0.60-0.90, Si:1.60-2.00, Cr:≤0.35, P:≤0.03, S:≤0.03 | C:0.56-0.64, Mn:0.40-0.70, Si:1.40-1.80,Cr:0.70-1.00 P:≤0.03, S:≤0.03 | C:0.52-0.60, Mn:0.60-0.90, Si:1.50-2.00,Cr:≤0.35 P:≤0.03, S:≤0.03 | C:0.35-0.42, Mn:0.50-0.80, Si:1.50-1.80, P:≤0.03, S:≤0.03 |
- High-Strength Steel: Grades like Q235 or other alloy steels are used for durable, wear-resistant clips.
- Composite Materials: Newer designs sometimes incorporate composites for specific performance needs.
How are rail elastic clips manufactured?
- Raw material
- Shearing
- Heating to forging temperature
- Forming
- Quenching – Tempering
- Inspection – Packing.
Raw material refers to a long spring steel rod. The first step is to shear the raw materials into the required length. Then put the sheared spring steel into the heating furnace. The temperature in the furnace is 950-1000℃. After heating, the clips are formed through three stages of bending by hot molding equipment. After forming, the elastic rail clips are conveyed to a quenching oil tank. After quenching, the elastic rail clips are tempered at 400-500°C. The elastic rail clips are finally oiled and packed. The elastic rail clips must have a hardness between 40 and 48 HRC.
From the first step of raw material purchasing to the final step of finished products, we do strict inspections.
GNEE RAIL as the largest rail clip and clamp production base in China, which has been qualified to tender medium and large scaled railway projects. In addition, GNEE RAIL is approved elastic rail clip manufacturer by China's Railway Ministry and has been ISO9001-2008 certified. Our rail clip product is ideal for rail track assembly for advantages of easy fitment while track laying; economical maintenance; long durability and lifespan; fast replacement.
| Name | Rail clip | |||
| Type | E clip (e1809, e2006,e2007,e2009,etc) | |||
| Skl clip (skl1,skl3,skl12,skl14) | ||||
| Or the type by customers' drawings | ||||
| Material | 60Si2MnA | 60Si2CrA | 55Si2Mn | 38Si7 |
| Chemical composition(%) | C:0.56-0.64, Mn:0.60-0.90, Si:1.60-2.00, Cr:≤0.35, P:≤0.03, S:≤0.03 | C:0.56-0.64, Mn:0.40-0.70, Si:1.40-1.80,Cr:0.70-1.00 P:≤0.03, S:≤0.03 | C:0.52-0.60, Mn:0.60-0.90, Si:1.50-2.00,Cr:≤0.35 P:≤0.03, S:≤0.03 | C:0.35-0.42, Mn:0.50-0.80, Si:1.50-1.80, P:≤0.03, S:≤0.03 |
| Hardness | For e clip: 44-48HRC | |||
| For skl clip: 42-47HRC | ||||
| Fatigue life | for Dia.18 is 3 millions cycles without breaking | |||
| for Dia.20 is 5 millions cycles without breaking | ||||
| Surface | plain (oiled), Oxide black, color painting, HDG, Zinc Plating... | |||
| Standard refers | DIN17221, BS970, GB/T1222 | |||
