Redistribution of carbon atoms in rails under ultra long-term operation

The article considers quantitative estimation of the relative carbon content in the structure elements of rail head after passed tonnage of 1411 and 1770 mln tons. In the initial state carbon is mainly located in cementite particles and after the operation the defects of crystal structure together with cementite are the places of carbon location. It is shown that the processes of carbon redistribution take place more intensive in surface layers up to 2 mm. Increase in passed tonnage is accompanied by intensive carbon movement on the defects of working fillet structure compared to the tread surface.