Everberg, Belgium - Huntsman Polyurethanes' European Development team has developed a new polyurethane elastomer to reduce noise pollution on busy urban transport networks, the company said 8 Jan.
Acoustiflex V, which is designed for use in vibration elastomers, is an MDI (methylene diphenyl diisocyanate)-based foam created to improve the performance of Edilon Tracklast flexible pads and mats, which act as a "fastening and cushioning mechanism" between rail tracks and the surface materials they rest on, the statement said.
According to Huntsman, Acoustiflex V's "advanced load-bearing characteristics" help the Edilon support system evenly distribute physical forces and vibrations produced by a train travelling over a section of track. Any irregularities in the track surface are smoothed out by the system's damping performance, virtually eliminating the typical rumbling of a moving train, the statement said.
Other advantages, Huntsman said, include the reduction of repeated impact of train wheels over time which increases the life cycle of railway sleepers and cuts maintenance costs.
"We can now help railway, tram and metro companies build durable transport networks that can run, almost silently, with little or no impact on the surrounding area," said Pim Schram, sales and marketing director at Edilon. "This is a compelling proposition for any organisation managing track replacement or new project installations in central city or suburban areas," he added.
"Our European Business Development team works tirelessly to create new products and identify different markets for some of Huntsman's most successful chemistries," said Jos Couwels, business development manager at Huntsman Polyurethanes. "Marrying proven product performance with emerging trends in new industries, we identify applications that could benefit from polyurethane-based components," he concluded. (RD)
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