Rail Steel
Rail steel is a material used to make the bottom layer of railway tracks. It is a specialised type of steel, hardened and tempered in order to endure the abuses associated with railway travel. Bonney Forge, a company that specializes in manufacturing custom forgings, provides information on this type of steel, states that it is commonly composed of manganese-molybdenum alloy. This alloy is specifically known as ASTM 1056, which is an international standard for railway steel designation.
The durability of rail steel is important as a significant amount of weight is placed on the track when a freight train passes. The heat-treated alloy prevents the steel from being weakened by the wear and tear associated with the passage of heavy trains. Rail steel must also be carbonized to relieve stress fractures and prevent metallurgical defects. Additionally, the steel must retain its strength despite temperature changes due to seasonal variations, as well as stresses created by wear and vibration.
In addition to meeting the rigorous demands of weight and temperature, other criteria must also be met by rail steel. For example, the steel must have a specific magnetic permeability and hardness range. It must also contain a minimum amount of alloying elements, such as manganese and chromium. Furthermore, it must possess a tensile strength that is capable of withstanding the wear and tear of locomotives.
Rail steel is produced through a number of processes. The first step is to create an ingot that is then sheared and flattened into blanks. These blanks are then welded on a perforated pan and exposed to a heating process. During this process, the rail steel is hardened and tempered to the right tensile strength. Additional operations may also be necessary, such as planing to remove small defects.
One of the most common methods of producing rail steel is through the open-hearth method. This process involves the melting of iron ore, coke and limestone in a furnace. The resulting slag is then skimmed off the surface, and the molten steel is poured into ladles. This molten steel is then cast into a railroad bar and further processed into the desired shape and size.
Due to its high performance characteristics, rail steel is an essential part of railway infrastructure. It is used to create the bed of railway tracks in order to ensure that high-speed trains and heavy equipment can move safely and quickly. Additional operations such as galvanizing can be used to further improve the endurance of rail steel against wear, tear, and rust.