1、 Ordinary carbon steel track
(1) Advantages
1. Low cost
-The main materials for ordinary carbon steel tracks are iron and a small amount of common elements such as carbon, silicon, manganese, etc. These elements come from a wide range of sources and have relatively simple production processes, resulting in lower material costs. For example, in the construction of some small railways or branch railways with strict cost control, ordinary carbon steel tracks can meet basic railway operation needs within a limited budget.
2. Easy to process
-The mechanical properties of ordinary carbon steel are relatively simple and do not require complex processes during processing. For example, when rolling it into a track shape, the rolling parameters are relatively easy to set and do not require special processing equipment or high-precision control technology, which makes the processing cost relatively low.
(2) Disadvantages
1. Poor wear resistance
-Under long-term friction of train wheels, ordinary carbon steel tracks wear out rapidly. Especially on railway mainlines with large traffic volumes, as trains pass frequently, the surface of the track will quickly wear out. For example, on a busy freight railway, if ordinary carbon steel tracks are used, serious wear and tear such as surface depression and deformation may occur within a few years, affecting the safety of train operation.
2. Limited strength and toughness
-The strength and toughness of ordinary carbon steel tracks are not sufficient to cope with some special situations. When a heavy-duty train passes through, the track may deform due to its limited load-bearing capacity. And in the face of impact loads, such as emergency braking of trains or passing through turnouts, ordinary carbon steel tracks may experience cracks or even fractures.
2、 High manganese steel track
(1) Advantages
1. Strong wear resistance
-High manganese steel has a relatively high manganese content (around 10% -14%). When subjected to pressure from train wheels, its surface will harden, forming a high hardness wear-resistant layer, while maintaining good toughness internally. This characteristic makes high manganese steel tracks perform well on heavy-duty railways and busy mainline railways. For example, on the Daqin Railway (China's heavy-duty coal transport special line), high manganese steel tracks can withstand frequent passage of a large number of coal transport trains, greatly reducing track wear and extending track service life.
2. Good resilience
-High manganese steel tracks not only have wear resistance, but also good toughness. It can effectively absorb the impact energy during train operation, such as the impact force generated during train start-up and braking. On mountainous railways or railway lines with many bends, high manganese steel tracks can adapt to frequent acceleration, deceleration, and turning operations of trains, reducing the risk of track damage.
(2) Disadvantages
1. High cost
-The material cost of high manganese steel track is higher than that of ordinary carbon steel track. Due to the high content of manganese element, the cost of obtaining and adding it to steel increases, and the production process is relatively complex, requiring precise control of parameters such as the proportion of each element and processing temperature, which leads to an increase in material costs. At the same time, the processing difficulty of high manganese steel is relatively high, requiring special processes to ensure its performance, and the processing cost is also high.
3、 Alloy steel track
(1) Advantages
1. Good overall performance
-Various alloying elements such as chromium, nickel, molybdenum, etc. are added to the alloy steel track. Chromium element can enhance the oxidation and corrosion resistance of the track, making it less susceptible to corrosion in special environments such as near the sea or chemical enterprises; Nickel element helps to improve the toughness and low-temperature performance of the orbit, making it suitable for use in high-altitude regions; Molybdenum can enhance the strength and hardness of orbitals. For example, in some coastal railway lines, alloy steel tracks can resist the erosion of seawater, ensuring the long-term stable operation of the railway.
2. Adapt to special environments
-In addition to the corrosion resistance and adaptability to low temperature environments mentioned above, alloy steel tracks can also be customized according to different special environmental requirements. For example, in some high radiation areas or areas with special electromagnetic requirements, specific alloy elements can be added to meet the special requirements.
(2) Disadvantages
1. High cost
-The material cost of alloy steel tracks is the highest. Because alloy elements themselves are expensive, and in the steel production process, it is necessary to precisely control the content and distribution of these elements, making the production process complex. At the same time, the processing difficulty of alloy steel is relatively high, requiring stricter process control, which requires high-end processing equipment and professional technicians, greatly increasing processing costs.
