On the vast railway line, railway sleepers support tens of millions of tons of trains with their tough posture, carrying the dreams and hopes of countless people. Among them, anti-corrosion sleepers have become an important choice for modern railway construction due to their excellent anti-corrosion and durability. So, do these anti-corrosion sleepers hidden under the rails need maintenance? How long is their service life? Let's delve into the depths and uncover the stories behind these scenes.
Manufacturing process of anti-corrosion sleepers
The preparation of anti-corrosion sleepers is a fine and complex process. It is usually made of high-quality wood, such as pine or oak. Pine wood is light and easy to process, and has been widely used for railway sleepers since ancient times; Oak is considered a higher-grade material due to its high density, strength, and better corrosion resistance. During the production process, professional anti-corrosion oil is used to enhance the durability of the wood. These anti-corrosion oils can penetrate the interior of the wood, forming a protective layer that effectively blocks the invasion of fungi, insect pests, and other factors.
With the advancement of technology, modern anti-corrosion treatment technology has become quite mature. The common method is to first heat treat the sleepers and then perform high-pressure immersion. The so-called heat treatment refers to the process of heating wood to improve its thermal stability, reduce water absorption, and control the moisture content of the wood, in preparation for the next step of high-pressure impregnation of anti-corrosion oil. High-pressure impregnation injects anti-corrosion oil into the interior of the wood under high pressure, forming a permanent protection. The heat treatment method enhances the anti-corrosion ability.
However, despite the advancement of anti-corrosion technology, which has greatly improved the service life of wooden sleepers, these sleepers still require regular maintenance during long-term use. Maintenance here is not simply cleaning, but a scientific observation and treatment method. Professional engineers will regularly inspect the sleepers to observe whether there are signs of cracks, rot, or damage. If necessary, additional anti-corrosion treatment or replacement of damaged sleepers can be carried out.
Service life of wooden anti-corrosion sleepers
So, how many years can these carefully treated anti-corrosion sleepers be used? From the actual situation, the service life of pine sleepers treated with anti-corrosion measures is generally between 15 and 25 years, while the service life of oak sleepers can reach 30 to 40 years. At this point, it is necessary to mention the essential characteristics of wood. Pine is easy to be corroded in some environments due to its fast growth, high water content and convenient processing; Oak is more dense, and after treatment, it not only has excellent strength and corrosion resistance, but also has a beautiful appearance, making it a representative of high-end railways.
Of course, the cost of oak is much higher than that of pine, which leads to the fact that the price of anti-corrosion sleepers made of oak is almost three to four times that of pine anti-corrosion sleepers.
Summary
On this steel road that carries people's hopes, the anti-corrosion sleepers are like loyal guardians, quietly supporting every train that speeds past. Although they are buried under the rails day after day and few people care about them, it is undeniable that the quality, maintenance and life of the anti-corrosion sleepers are directly related to the safety and smoothness of the railway. From a distance, the anti-corrosion sleepers are not only the foundation of the railway, but also carry our infinite expectations for future travel.
