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BASF Debuts 4 Rail Polyurethane Products

Thursday, January 27, 2011

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BASF SE has introduced four new polyurethane solutions for the global rail industry.

The company says the new products—Elastotrack, Elastollan, Elastocoat and Elasturan—are part of its  global plan to change how the rail industry addresses maintenance and expansion changes.

“We are dedicated to being a leader in developing versatile, high-performance polyurethanes,” said Joe Shirmer, business director, BASF Polyurethanes Systems. “Our rail solutions not only offer superior products, but also bring with them a legacy of world-class technical support and service for this evolving and growing industry.”

BASF gave this outline of the products:

• Elastotrack is a two-component polyurethane system that, when applied to ballast stones, prevents shifting or movement from the dynamic force of passing trains. The railway ballast binder elastomer enables a stiffness adjustment between the ballast track and the concrete slab track. This reduces the feeling of bumpiness for passengers and provides a buffer zone for the high-speed train moving from the concrete slab track to the ballast track.

• Elastollan offers compression set, weather and abrasion resistance, load-bearing and damping qualities, and hydrolytic stability when used for railway pads. Elastollan stands for thermoplastic polyurethane elastomers (TPU) and is designed for demanding applications in nearly all industries.
 
• Elastocoat is a waterproofing coating system that permanently protects rail structures from corrosion and abrasion, keeping pH levels accurate while adding strength to existing metal structures.

• Elasturan, a damping elastomer, provides noise insulation, increases durability and minimizes railroad maintenance costs.

BASF said the product benefits include reduced maintenance costs, reduced potential for derailments and a quieter, more comfortable ride for passengers.