Enhanced corrosion resistance of high-speed railway fastening systems: ZnAl coating on 38Si7 steel

DURSUNLAR M., TAŞ Z., ÇELEBİ M., Akgul B., Cug H.

KOVOVE MATERIALY-METALLIC MATERIALS, no.1, pp.119-134, 2025 (SCI-Expanded) identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Publication Date: 2025
  • Doi Number: 10.31577/km.2025.2.119
  • Journal Name: KOVOVE MATERIALY-METALLIC MATERIALS
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Aerospace Database, Central & Eastern European Academic Source (CEEAS), Communication Abstracts, Metadex, Civil Engineering Abstracts
  • Page Numbers: pp.119-134
  • Karadeniz Technical University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

In this study, a ZnAl coating was applied to the SKL14 tension clamp, which is made of 38Si7 chemical composition, one of the HM-type rails fastening components, and its corrosion performance was evaluated. The corrosion test was conducted according to the EN ISO 9227 standard in a 5% NaCl environment for 720 hours. The test results were analyzed by ASTM D610-01. As a result, the non-coated sample completely rusted within 1 hour. The ZnAl coating successfully passed the corrosion test, showing only approximately 3 % rust. Weight losses for the non-coated samples, which completely rusted within the first hour, were found to be 0.02 g, whereas the ZnAl-coated samples exhibited a weight loss of 1.23 g after 720 hours of continuous exposure. The ZnAl coating improved the corrosion resistance of the tension clamp over 720 times and enhanced its mechanical properties.