Impact of soil and air contaminants on the composition of rail-head surface rust

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore the environment around the rail track at different sites in Nile Delta region, Egypt, through the measurements of the air pollutants and corrosive ionic species present in surface soil and also to investigate the impact of the existing contaminants on the composition of iron rust formed on the rail head surface at these sites and then the durability of rail itself. Design/methodology/approach – The soil characterization was studied by means of sieve shakers, pH meter, conductivity meter and ion chromatography instrument. Scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectrometry, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction were used to characterize the rust layer formed on the rail head surface. Findings – The results showed the relation between the contaminants and the composition of the rust layer. Magnetite and goethite were the major phases identified in the rust layers. Akaganeite was detected in the marine atmosphere. Iron sulfide and iron oxide nitrate hydroxide were detected in environments rich in H2S and NO2 gases, respectively. The appearance of phases like FeCl2 and FeOCl only at marine atmospheres reflects that the corrosive species in suspended particulate matter like chloride ion have a higher effect on the rust composition of the rail head surface than that in surface soil layer. Originality/value – This paper revealed the impact of air and soil contaminants on the composition of rust layer on the rail head surface and may provide guidance for the durability of rails and the necessity for their preservation.