German plastics processor Röchling (Mannheim; www.roechling.de) has introduced two flame-retardant plastics to meet the updated European rail vehicle standard EN 45545-2:2013 that came into force in March 2016 to strengthen requirements for the fire behaviour of materials and components.

The first new product is “Durostone” UPM S13 LST (Low Smoke & Toxicity), a glass fibre-reinforced plastic comprising unsaturated polyester resin strengthened with glass mat. “Durostone” UPM S13 LST, which is formulated to produce only a small amount of smoke and toxic gases in a fire, has a density of 2.10 g/cm³, enabling the manufacture of components that are lightweight but also have high mechanical strength, said Röchling. Typical applications are mounts on bogies, cover plates, snuffer boxes, switchgear, throttles and design elements for dry-type transformers.

The material is supplied as pressed sheets and machined components and compression-moulded parts, according to customer drawings.

The second flame-retardant plastic is “Polystone” MK FL, an ultra-high molecular weight PE (UHMW-PE) with a very low density of 1.0g/cm³, which supports the lightweight construction of rail vehicles while also offering excellent slide properties and high abrasion resistance, according to Röchling. Typical components include slide elements, cable clamps and linings.

This thermoplastic is also available as pressed sheets and small or large machined and extruded machined parts with complex geometries and close tolerances.

Röchling said it was the first manufacturer to market in 2013 an extruded flame-resistant polyamide as a semi-finished product that meets the requirements of EN 45545-2:2013. The processor is certified to class A1 of DIN 6701-2 for bonding rail vehicles and parts at its site in Haren / Germany.