Used Rail Scrap

Introduction

Used rail scrap, also known as rail scrap or railway scrap, refers to the discarded steel materials sourced from old or decommissioned railway tracks, including rails, fasteners, and other related components. This scrap material is a valuable resource for the recycling and steel industries due to its high quality and ability to be repurposed into new products. It holds significant economic and environmental value, contributing to reducing the demand for virgin steel while supporting the circular economy.

This comprehensive product description aims to explain the importance of used rail scrap, its sources, types, grades, processing methods, and applications. Additionally, it highlights the role of rail scrap in global recycling processes and its contribution to various industries such as construction, manufacturing, and transportation.

What is Used Rail Scrap?

Used rail scrap is primarily composed of discarded rails, which are made of high-quality carbon steel. These rails have been in service on rail tracks for many years and are no longer usable due to wear and tear, damage, or simply outdated technology. When railway tracks are upgraded or replaced, the old rails and associated materials are removed and are often sold as scrap.

The scrap typically consists of steel that has been used in harsh conditions, but still contains valuable properties that make it suitable for recycling. The steel is often free from significant contaminants, which ensures that the end product can be of high quality when processed properly.

Sources of Used Rail Scrap

Used rail scrap originates primarily from the following sources:

1. Decommissioned Railway Tracks: The most common source of rail scrap is the replacement of old or damaged railway lines. Rail networks constantly upgrade their infrastructure, and old rails are taken out of service, either due to wear, structural defects, or to accommodate modern, heavier trains.

2. Discontinued Railway Systems: In some cases, rail systems are completely discontinued, and all of their infrastructure—including rails—are sold as scrap. This may occur due to financial considerations, declining passenger traffic, or shifts in transportation trends.

3. Rail Maintenance and Reconstruction: Periodic maintenance on railway tracks leads to the removal and replacement of rails that no longer meet the required safety standards. During track reconstruction projects, rail scrap is also generated.

4. Accident-Damaged Rails: In some instances, rail scrap may be generated as a result of railway accidents, where rails and track components are damaged beyond repair and removed.

5. Export of Used Rails: Some regions or countries may export used rail scrap to international markets, where it is further processed or recycled for various industrial applications.

Types of Used Rail Scrap

There are various types of used rail scrap, categorized according to their condition, origin, and quality. Some of the most common types of rail scrap include:

1. Class A Rail Scrap: This type of rail scrap is generally free from major defects or damage. It may have some signs of wear, but it remains in relatively good condition and can be used to produce high-quality steel products after recycling. Class A scrap is highly sought after due to its better material quality and fewer contaminants.

2. Class B Rail Scrap: Class B scrap includes rails with moderate damage or wear. It may contain some signs of corrosion or surface rust but can still be recycled into new steel products. While not as high in quality as Class A scrap, it is still valuable for various industrial uses.

3. Class C Rail Scrap: This scrap category consists of severely worn or damaged rails. It may include rails with significant corrosion, cracks, or bends. While this type of scrap is not suitable for high-quality steel production on its own, it can be processed and blended with other types of scrap to create usable steel products.

4. Used Rail Scrap from Different Rail Standards: Rail systems worldwide adhere to various rail standards, such as UIC (International Union of Railways) or AREMA (American Railway Engineering and Maintenance-of-Way Association). These different rail types affect the scrap’s composition and recycling process. Used rail scrap may also be categorized based on the weight of the rail, with lighter rails often being less valuable due to lower material content.

Grades of Used Rail Scrap

The grade of used rail scrap refers to the level of quality and purity of the scrap metal. Grades are typically assigned based on the physical condition of the rail, its age, and the extent of wear and damage. Key factors that affect the grading of used rail scrap include:

1. Chemical Composition: The amount of carbon, manganese, and other alloying elements in the steel. Rails with a high percentage of carbon tend to be more durable but may be harder to recycle into some products.

2. Surface Condition: Scraps with minimal rust, corrosion, or other surface defects are often classified into higher grades. Rails with extensive rust or corrosion may be downgraded to lower grades.

3. Wear and Tear: Rails that have undergone heavy use and show signs of bending, cracking, or significant surface damage may be assigned lower grades. Rails with only light wear or minimal defects will be rated higher.

4. Contamination Level: Scrap containing contaminants such as dirt, oils, or other foreign materials may be considered lower grade. Clean scrap with fewer impurities is assigned higher grades.

Processing of Used Rail Scrap

Once used rail scrap is collected, it undergoes a series of steps to ensure it is properly cleaned, sorted, and prepared for recycling into new steel products. The main processing stages include:

1. Sorting and Categorization: Used rail scrap is sorted into different categories based on the type, grade, and condition of the material. Sorting helps to ensure that different quality levels are separated and processed accordingly.

2. Cleaning: Rail scrap may be cleaned to remove surface contaminants such as dirt, rust, and oils. This step helps to ensure that the final recycled steel is of higher quality and ready for reuse.

3. Shredding and Size Reduction: In some cases, the rail scrap is shredded or cut into smaller pieces to make it easier to transport and further process. This step also helps to improve the uniformity of the scrap, allowing for more efficient recycling.

4. Melting and Refining: Once the rail scrap has been cleaned and prepared, it is sent to a steel mill for melting and refining. In the furnace, the scrap is melted down to create molten steel. Various refining processes may be used to remove impurities and adjust the chemical composition to create steel of the desired grade.

5. Casting and Forming: After melting, the steel is cast into molds to create new billets or ingots. These can then be further processed into various steel products, such as rebar, sheets, or beams, depending on the intended use.

Applications of Used Rail Scrap

Used rail scrap has numerous applications in various industries, particularly in the manufacturing of steel products. Some of the most common applications include:

1. Steel Manufacturing: The primary use of used rail scrap is in the production of new steel. The recycling process allows the scrap to be melted down and transformed into high-quality steel products such as rebar, beams, and sheets. The steel industry relies heavily on scrap materials, including rail scrap, to meet the global demand for steel.

2. Construction: Recycled steel from used rail scrap is often used in construction projects. Steel beams, columns, and reinforcement bars (rebar) are essential components in the construction of buildings, bridges, highways, and other infrastructure projects.

3. Transportation: Used rail scrap is commonly used in the production of new rails for railway systems. Recycling rail scrap allows railway operators to reduce costs and minimize the need for new steel production, making rail infrastructure development more sustainable.

4. Automotive Industry: Some rail scrap can be used in the automotive industry for manufacturing components such as chassis, body parts, and frames. The high-quality steel produced from used rail scrap is suitable for manufacturing durable and reliable automotive parts.

5. Industrial Machinery: Various industrial machinery, including manufacturing equipment, mining equipment, and structural components, also rely on steel that has been produced from recycled rail scrap.

6. Consumer Goods: In some cases, steel products made from used rail scrap are used to manufacture everyday consumer goods such as appliances, furniture, and tools.

Environmental Benefits of Recycling Used Rail Scrap

The recycling of used rail scrap offers several key environmental benefits:

1. Reduced Carbon Footprint: Recycling rail scrap reduces the need for mining virgin iron ore and reduces energy consumption during the steel-making process, leading to a lower carbon footprint. Recycled steel requires less energy to produce than new steel from raw materials, contributing to significant greenhouse gas emissions savings.

2. Conservation of Natural Resources: By reusing rail scrap, natural resources such as iron ore, coal, and limestone are conserved. This helps to protect ecosystems and reduce environmental degradation caused by mining activities.

3. Waste Reduction: Recycling used rail scrap helps to reduce the amount of waste generated by decommissioned railway systems and abandoned rail tracks. By repurposing scrap steel, waste is minimized, contributing to a more sustainable approach to resource management.

4. Sustainability: The recycling process supports a circular economy by ensuring that valuable resources like steel remain in use for as long as possible. It helps promote sustainability in industries that rely on steel and other metal products.

Conclusion

Used rail scrap is a valuable and sustainable resource for the steel industry, providing a reliable source of high-quality steel for various applications. With its origins in decommissioned railway tracks, used rail scrap can be recycled into new products, reducing the environmental impact of steel production and supporting industries such as construction, transportation, and automotive manufacturing.

Recycling used rail scrap plays a critical role in the circular economy by conserving natural resources, reducing energy consumption, and minimizing waste. As the demand for sustainable solutions grows, used rail scrap will continue to play an important role in driving the future of steel recycling, ensuring that valuable materials are reused and repurposed for generations to come.

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION AND SPECIFICATION;
R50- R65 – IRSI CODES;
The chemical composition is the standard for R-50 R-65 Tee rails original weigh 50 pounds per yard or heavier,6 meters long and over. Material to be suitable for rerolling into bars and shapes. Free from bent and twisted rails, frog, switch and guard rails, rails with split heads and broken flanges. Continuous welded rail may be included provided no weld is over 9 inches from end of the piece of rail. Free from Fluff, Nonferrous inclusions, excessive rust and other impurities. Free from war and explosives, shells, cartridges, other arms and ammunitions used or otherwise and any closed containers. Free from any radioactive materials, any harmful chemicals, substances, and coatings any organic waste any other harmful substances. Dirt, dust, rust fluff and other impurities not allowed over 05 %. The rails are to be neatly bundled and secured with iron wire or straps, provided with adequate lifting hooks. Individual bundles not to exceed 5 MTW. Used Rails R50 – R65

Chemical Composition Used Rails;

C: 0, 54 – 0,82
Si: 0,18-0,40

Mn: 0, 60-1, 05

S: 0.04 max

P: 0,035 max

As.: 0, 01 max of Mass share

Norms: R-50 GOST7173-75 and R-65 GOST-8165-75

The scrap consists of R-50 (51, 67 kg/m) R-65 (64,72 kg/m)

Used Rail ISRI 27-29 ISRI-CODES;

(27) Rail, Steel No. 1. Standard section tee rails, original weight 50 pounds per yard or heavier, 10 feet long and over. Suitable for re-rolling into bars and shapes. Free from bent and twisted rails, frog, switch, and guard rails, or rails with split heads and broken flanges. Continuous welded rail may be included provided no weld is over 9 inches from the end of the piece of rail.

(28A) Rail, Steel No. 2 Cropped Rail Ends. Standard section, original weight of 50 pounds per yard and over, 18 inches long and under.

(28B) Rail, Steel No. 2 Cropped Rail Ends. Standard section, original weight of 50 pounds per yard and over, 2 feet long and under.

(28C) Rail, Steel No. 2 Cropped Rail En ds. Standard sec t ion, original weight 50 pounds per yard and over, 3 feet long and under.

(29) Rail, St eel No. 3.Standard section tee, girder, and/or guard rails, to be free from frog and switch rails not cut apart, and contain no manganese, cast, welds, or attachments of any kind except angle bars. Free from concrete, dirty and foreign material of any kind.

The rails can be cut to the length the buyer wants.

Specification:

Product name Metal scrap / Used rail scrap
Application Melting
Packaging details Bulk
HMS Type
HMS 1&2

Composition Ferrous steel scrap
Place of origin Thailand
Loading port Bangkok port
Delivery time 7-15 days after payment

Chemical Composition:

C 0.06 – 0.082%
Mn 0.75 – 1.05%
SI 0.13 – 0.28%
P Max 0.035%
S Max 0.045%
Ar
Max 0.15%

We are operate in the supply of Aluminum UBC, Aluminium Ingot, Zinc Ingot, Copper Cathode, Copper Rod, Copper Wire, Aluminum scrap, Zinc Ingot, HMS 1 & 2, AC/ Fridge Scrap, Engines Scrap, Battery Scrap, PVC Scrap, HDPE, LDPE and other Metal scrap from wide range extraction materials.

If you’re interested in our product, please feel free to contact us.