Rails for the 90s

CIM Bulletin, Vol. 81, No. 918, 1988

W.H. HODGSON,British Steel Corporation, British Steel Corporation, and R.R. PRESTON, British Steel Corporation, Swinden Laboratories, Rotherham, U.K.

Improved rail production techniques provide new options for the rail user. Steelmaking improvements offer tighter composition control, lower oxide and sulphide counts, greater control of segregates and freedom from hydrogen problems. New ultrasonic, laser and eddy current equipment gives printout information on surface flatness, straightness and internal condition. These have come along at a time when dramatic changes have occurred on the rail heat treatment scene. Rails can now be deep hardened on or offline in ways which should eventually result in a complete rewrite of the world's specifications. Rails of simple composition can be produced in the hardness range 280/400 BHN as required. The rail user can choose the hardness within this range according to requirement without the necessity for any step changes in the process routes. It is suggested that this is the pattern for the next decade.

Keywords: Metallurgy, Rail technology, Technology, Steelmaking, Eddy current techniques