Microstructure and mechanical properties of as rolled high strength bainitic rail steels

Bainitic steels are emerging with the potential to replace eutectoid steels to achieve longer rail life, Bainitic steels of two compositions were made and processed into rails 13 m in length, The properties of these rails wer e evaluated in the as rolled slow cooled condition, The results from bainit ic rail steels were compared with those for 880 MPa grade pearlitic rail st eel. It was found that in the as rolled slow cooled condition rail properti es such as fracture toughness, Charpy impact energy, and endurance limit we re superior to those of 880 MPa grade pearlitic rail steel. MST/4515.