Identification of Iron Rusts on Rail by X-Ray Diffraction and Vibrational Analysis

A periodical unevenness of the running surface of rails is formed on ascending slope of submarine railway tunnel. One of the causes has been concluded due to the combination of a low friction and wheel load variation induced by some kinds of iron oxides and oxyhydroxides with various coefficients of friction on the rail, though it has not been made clear yet. In this study, X-ray diffraction and Raman scattering spectroscopic analysis were attempted to identify iron rusts on the rail as a process to solve the periodic unevenness of the rail suffering many railway companies.