Composite catches train for safety requirements
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Sabic Innovative Plastics product story
Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team
Dec 9, 2005
GE's Rail-Lite thermoplastic uses composite from Azdel made with Ultem polyetherimide resin to meet rail industry needs for lightweight materials with flame retardance and low smoke and toxicity.
GE has announced a grade of Rail-Lite thermoplastic composite from Azdel made with the company's Ultem polyetherimide (PEI) resin to meet the needs of the rail industry for lightweight materials with flame retardance and low smoke and toxicity.
Metro-North Railroad, the third-largest commuter railroad in North America, has used it to replace acoustic ceiling panels in the cabs of its GE Genesis passenger locomotives.
The material complies with new flame and smoke requirements of the US Federal Railroad Association (FRA).
A collaborative effort by GE, Azdel, Schneller and American Acoustical Products led to the Hushliner FR acoustic ceiling panel, which uses the Rail-Lite composite.
The panels are based on a five-layer sandwich construction that includes a perforated Indura GTfilm decorative laminate from Schneller, Rail-Lite and various adhesives.
The panels comply with ASTM flame and smoke standards mandated by the FRA, and provide acoustic and sound-absorption properties, a cleanable surface that resists graffiti and delamination, and flexibility that makes them easy to install into confined spaces on locomotives.
Rail-Lite is a thermoformable, light-weight composite.
Comprised of long glass fibres, the composite enables sturdy components with about half of the specific gravity of alternative materials used in interiors such as aluminum or GRP/FRP.
The composite quickly chars on exposure to flame and emits low levels of smoke and toxicity.
It meets US FRA 49 CFR Part 238 flammability and smoke emissions standards for train passenger cars and locomotive cabs, as well as Germany's DIN5510, Part 2 S4/SR2/ST2 rating.
Ultem PEI resin is inherently flame resistant with low smoke emission.
The resin grades can be used in applications that need to comply with environmental requirements such as TCO99, Blue Angel, White Swan or EU, while meeting the fire safety criteria of UL.
Other applications for Rail-Lite are window masks, ceiling and side-ceiling panels, Wainscot panels, seat backs, armrests, tray tables, luggage racks, partitions, and other interior trim components.
It can replace PVC, polyester, vinyl ester and phenolic FRPs or GRPs, high pressure laminates, and aluminum type materials traditionally used in train interiors.
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