EFFECT OF CARBON CONTENT ON PROPERTIES OF SLACK-QUENCHED RAILS

A comparative investigation was carried out of the routine mechanical properties,fracture toughness,microstructure and hardness of slack-quenched rails containing different carbon contents.After the rails slack-quenched,their strength and toughness,together with ductility, are obviously improved,and the higher the quench hardening is,the more the resistance to wear and shell will be.Discussion was also made of the reason for this improvement and of the effect of carbon content and quench hardening on the properties of rails in combination with the rail-laying trial.