Work

Laboratory and field assessment of corrosion resistance and durability for coated railway fastening systems in the sandy desert environment

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Railway infrastructure in arid regions suffers from rapid material degradation due to sandstorms and salt-bearing dust. Fastening systems are especially prone to corrosion, leading to increased maintenance and safety concerns. This research evaluates the corrosion resistance and relative cost performance of three coating systems, nano coating, Dacromet and hot-dip galvanizing, applied to steel fasteners used in desert railway tracks. Laboratory salt spray testing and three-year field exposure were conducted to assess performance. Nano coatings showed the highest lab resistance (up to 1200 h), followed by hot-dip galvanizing (1000 h) and Dacromet (500 h). In contrast, field tests showed that hot-dip galvanized components had the lowest surface corrosion (∼5%), while nano coatings (∼15%) and Dacromet (∼30%) were less durable in practice. Cost comparisons indicated that Dacromet had the lowest initial cost, hot-dip galvanizing had the highest, and nano coatings had a moderate increase. Overall, hot-dip galvanizing provided the best balance of durability and reliability for desert applications, while nano coatings offer potential with further improvements in mechanical resilience.

Source: Transportation Safety and Environment

DOI: 10.1093/tse/tdaf066

Authors: Milad Alizadeh Galdiani, Qing Wu, Seyed Ali Mosayebi, Abed Amrollahi

Institutions: Central Queensland University, Iran University of Science and Technology

Language: English

Topic: Corrosion Behavior and Inhibition

Subfield: Materials Chemistry

Field: Materials Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Industry, innovation and infrastructure

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $1,575