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New DragonCoat fire-retardant coating for rubber improves survivability in rail fires

Advanced polymer-development company Trelleborg chose Inn-o-Trans 2012 (an international transportation convention held in Germany last September) to launch DragonCoat, a radical, flexible fire-retardant coating initially created to protect rail components.

The protective coating is considered to be the first to give a significant degree of fire protection to natural rubber suspension components, delaying combustion of the main body of rubber. This should allow passengers more time to escape in the event of a fire, depending on the nature of the fire: typically an extra 3 min., which can be critical in protection of life and survivability.

Trelleborg's DragonCoat ensures that suspension components made of natural rubber directly exposed to a heat source will not ignite for as long as the coating provides a shield, thus delaying the onset of smoke, toxic emissions, and flames. In addition, it has the capability to flex and deform constantly throughout a long service life while retaining all the natural elasticity of the material.

Priority for fire safety
"Ever since the Kings Cross fire of 1987 [submway station fire in London, U.K.], fire safety has been a priority for railways around the world, particularly for underground systems, but also for any vehicles that run through tunnels," says Bill Mortel, director of advanced technologies at Trelleborg Industrial AVS.

The many natural rubber components used in primary and secondary suspensions do not cause fire but are fuels capable of contributing to it. Up until now, there has been no way of protecting against this.

"DragonCoat has no impact on the flexibility or performance of the natural rubber spring, and it even enhances the product's oil resistance," says Mortel. "For train builders and operators, it represents the first technology to offer a significant degree of fire protection for all the train's vital anti-vibration and suspension components, helping improve survival rates for passengers."

Moreover, the coating has a life expectancy comparable to the component itself and does not require any changes to the product space envelope.

Trelleborg's DragonCoat is a composite formulation with intumescent properties that are activated when subjected to heat. Extensive testing in the laboratories of Trelleborg Industrial AVS has shown that a suspension component with a volume of 10 liters of natural rubber, when exposed to a gas flame for 2 min., self-extinguishes after approximately 12 min., releasing minimal heat and smoke.

A similar, unprotected component ignited easily, produced heat and heavy smoke, and continuined to burn violently.

The coating also offers a considerable reduction in toxic fumes (carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide) to levels compliant with the strictest international regulation (CEN TS 45455 - part 2). Worldwide patents have been applied for by Trelleborg, and an EU patent has already been granted.

Trelleborg does not have a separate Web page yet to promote this new innovation.

For more information, please contact: Chris Billinge, Trelleborg Industrial AVS. Telephone: +44 (0)116 267 0405; Email: chris.billinge@trelleborg.com.

Source: Trelleborg

Published February 2013

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