STRUCTURAL AND MORPHOLOGICAL EVALUATION OF HYBRID POLYMER COMPOSITE FOR RAILWAY RAIL PAD APPLICATIONS

This study presents a comparative structural and morphological investigation of a novel UHMWPE/HDPE/EVA-based polymer composite and conventional polyurethane (PU) used in railway rail pad applications. The developed composite consists of UHMWPE (50%), HDPE (25%), EVA (10%), DOTF (2%), modifier (3%), and rubber crumb (10%). Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS) analyses were employed to evaluate morphology, phase distribution, and elemental composition. The results reveal that the proposed composite exhibits a heterogeneous multi-phase structure with well-dispersed components, contributing to enhanced energy absorption and damping behavior. In contrast, PU shows a more homogeneous morphology with limited phase diversity. EDS analysis confirms the presence of reinforcing mineral elements and improved compositional complexity in the composite system. The findings indicate that the developed material offers superior structural adaptability and functional performance compared to conventional polyurethane.

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