Pamukkale University Journal of Engineering Sciences (Feb 1998)
THE METALLURGICAL SPECIFICATIONS AND HARDNESS PROFILE OF A RAIL THERMITE WELD
Abstract
The quality of railroad construction is a important factor for comfort and safety in railroad transportation. Thermite welding being known for a long time prevents rail failure and, off road the train. It provides smoothly journey, and long life to rails and wagons. In this study, S 49 type St 70 steel rails have been welded by thermite process, hardness profile of welding zone rails has been obtained and its microstructure has been examined. In this profile maximum hardness values have been observed in front of welding region. Hardness value was 290 HB in the front of melting zone in the zone under heat effect (HAZ), 260 HB in welding zone and 220 HB in main structure. For microstructure pro-eutectoid ferrite and perlite were observed but not martensite.
