Design Characteristics The IntegriCo Composites rail tie is a true composite structure, integrating desired properties from its various components to generate a "sum better than its parts". The design of the rail tie includes a plastic mixture reinforced by a rectangular wood beam. The outcome is a railroad tie with enhanced carrying capabilities, longevity, crack resistance, and insect resistance.   The Plastic Component IntegriCo patented technology facilitates the processing of various plastic materials without separation or special cleaning. One of the components is a form of cross-linked polyethylene, providing thermal and chemical stability, as well as inherent UV degradation resistance. The overall performance of the plastic component is characterized by enhanced crack initiation and propagation resistance at all field temperature ranges, including subzero temperatures, and high surface wear resistance.

The Wood Component

Made of oak, the wood component provides excellent flexural and load bearing characteristics well known to the railroad industry. The wood beam is cut to dimension, treated, and dried to pre-determined moisture content before it is ready to be used in production. The treatment utilizes disodium octaborate tetrahydrate (DOT) in accordance with AWPA standards. DOT is environment friendly and will not wash out of the wood as the wood is encapsulated by the plastic component.

Three of the composite railroad ties surfaces are stamped with a pattern to increase the in-track lateral stability of the rail tie.

Additional properties and characteristics are shown here.

Process Characteristics

Incoming materials are subjected to a detailed receiving inspection process. Once approved, the plastic mixture is fed into the patented equipment for processing and delivered into molds where the wood beam is suspended, ready to become a composite railroad tie.

At the end of the cooling cycle, the rail tie is removed from the mold, and is subjected to additional inspection, measurement and testing, to verify compliance with quality specifications.

The rail tie pattern is then imprinted and the composite railroad ties are banded into bundles of 20, ready for shipment to the customer.

Quality Assurance

IntegriCo Composites site and process are AAR M-1003 compliant. Statistical Process Control (SPC) is utilized to ensure that quality is inherently integrated into the design and process of our rail ties.