When we usually take the train, many of the neatly arranged sleepers under the tracks are made of pine wood. But did you know? The anti-corrosion sleepers made from different types of pine trees, made from the same pine wood, have significant differences in performance and characteristics. Today, Qingdao Tiehan will talk about three common pine trees: larch, Douglas fir, and Pinus radiata, and see the differences in their use as anti-corrosion sleepers.
Let's talk about larch first. This type of pine tree is very common in the northeast, northwest and other areas of our country. It grows tall and straight, with light wood color and straight texture. The wood of larch is relatively hard and has a high density, giving it a natural "hard bone" strength. Think about it, the place where it grows is cold and long in winter, and short in summer. Growing up in such an environment, the wood naturally develops the ability to resist freezing and building.
These characteristics of larch can be of great help in making anti-corrosion sleepers. The first step is the selection process. Larch trees have straight trunks and high yield, making them suitable for processing into the shape of sleepers. Next is the drying process. Although it has a high density and is not easy to release moisture, it can be slowly baked by professional drying equipment to control the moisture in the wood within a suitable range, so that the sleepers are not easily deformed or cracked. At the stage of anti-corrosion treatment, the structure of larch wood is tight. Although it is difficult for anti-corrosion oil to penetrate, once it penetrates, it is like putting a strong armor on the wood, which can resist the erosion of fungi and termites for a long time. The biggest advantage of anti-corrosion sleepers made of larch wood is their strong weather resistance. In cold regions or areas with large temperature differences, they can stably support the railway tracks without cracking or twisting, just like a tough guy holding his post, silently enduring the heavy pressure of trains and the test of harsh environments.
Let's take a look at the Douglas fir again. Douglas fir is mainly produced in North America. Its wood color ranges from light yellow to dark brown, with clear and beautiful textures. Moreover, the wood has high strength and good toughness. The climate where Douglas fir grows is relatively humid and the soil is fertile, so its wood cell structure is relatively uniform and the texture is delicate.
In the production process of anti-corrosion sleepers, the advantages of Douglas fir are also prominent. During the drying process, the moisture of the wood is evenly distributed, making it less prone to local cracking, which lays a good foundation for subsequent processing. During anti-corrosion treatment, due to the relatively loose structure of the wood, the anti-corrosion oil is more likely to penetrate into the interior of the wood, just like a sponge absorbing water, which can fully absorb the anti-corrosion oil and form a uniform protective layer. Anti corrosion sleepers made of Douglas fir have high strength and can withstand the enormous pressure of trains passing through. On the other hand, they have good toughness and can be slightly elastic when trains pass by, just like installing some small springs on the rails to reduce the damage of vibration to the rails and sleepers.
Finally, take a look at the radiation pine. Speaking of radiation pine, many people may not be familiar with it. It originated in California, USA and is now widely planted in New Zealand and other places. Radiant pine has a fast growth rate and can grow into wood in just over a decade, which is one of its major advantages. It is like a "fast runner" that can quickly provide us with a large amount of wood. Its wood color is light yellow, the texture is straight and uniform, the wood is relatively soft, and it is easy to process.
When making anti-corrosion sleepers, the characteristics of radiation pine are simply "born for anti-corrosion sleepers". Firstly, it grows quickly, has a stable supply of wood, and has relatively low costs, making it very suitable for large-scale railway construction. During the drying process, due to the softness of the wood and the ease of water evaporation, it does not take too long to achieve the desired drying level, greatly shortening the production cycle. After vacuum pressure infusion treatment, the anti-corrosion oil can penetrate deeper into the wood, forming comprehensive protection, and the anti-corrosion effect is particularly good.
Radiation pine has a relatively light weight, which is convenient for transportation and laying, saving a lot of manpower and material resources. After anti-corrosion treatment and reasonable processing, its strength can fully meet the requirements of railway sleepers, and its toughness is also good, which can adapt to different geological conditions.
These three types of pine wood made anti-corrosion sleepers each have their own strengths. Larch trees are like tough men, persevering in harsh environments; The Douglas fir is like an all-around athlete, with good strength, toughness, and appearance; And radiation pine is like a highly cost-effective "practicality", with fast growth, easy processing, good anti-corrosion, long service life, and low cost. These advantages make it increasingly popular in railway construction. With the continuous development of the railway industry, the demand for anti-corrosion sleepers is also increasing. Radiant pine, with its many advantages, is playing an increasingly important role and silently contributing to our railway transportation industry.
