At a time when the use of mass transit and aviation services by people and businesses is at an unprecedented level, the responsibility of system operators and industry manufacturers to ensure safety and performance is significant.
Mass transit and aviation users expect a reliable and safe experience of a certain quality, and manufacturers are expected to provide planes, trains, trams and buses that deliver this performance. These companies have to build vehicles that can withstand extreme and continuous stresses, and perform to the highest standards in harsh environments.
How Advanced Materials is supporting mass transport industry manufacturers
Advanced Materials is helping mass transit and aerospace sector manufacturers comply with the stringent standards associated with these sectors, and deliver vehicles that conform to strict safety and performance criteria, and provide the continuous, reliable service that is expected of them.
How are we doing this? By developing, manufacturing and supplying a range of components in a number of silicone rubber compounds for these manufacturers. The components include silicone rubber profiles, seals, gaskets, tubing and cord.
Why mass transit and aerospace manufacturers are using silicone rubber
Aerospace and mass transit industry manufacturers are using silicone rubber components because they can withstand the extreme pressure, high temperatures and other continuous stresses experienced by these transport system vehicles.
The range of flame-retardant silicone rubber compounds that we stock can be used for multiple applications. Crucially, these silicone rubber compounds have low smoke and low toxicity properties, which make them ideal for the mass transit and aerospace industries.
What is the most widely used silicone compound in the mass transport sector?
The most widely used silicone rubber compound in the mass transport manufacturing sector is FR70R.
This market-leading silicone rubber compound was developed specifically for the mass transit and aerospace industries. As well as low smoke and low toxicity properties, it also has zero halogen properties.
Notably, the FR70R silicone rubber compound meets the following industry criteria:
- Smoke opacity to AFNOR norm NFX10702 Smoke Index: SS.I approx.: 6
- Smoke toxicity to AFNOR norm NFX70100 conventional toxicity index: CIT approx. 2.7 and FAR 25.853(a)
The compound has been tested according to European Union standard EN 45545-2 (fire protection on rail vehicles) and is approved for requirements sets R1, R7, R22 and R23 of this benchmark certification.
Furthermore, FR70R meets the global UL94V-0 standard, which is used to determine the flammability of a specified material and its associated burn time. In addition, the compound conforms to the British standards BS 6853 (appendix B5.1) and BS 6853 (appendix A9), and the French standards NF F 16-101, NF F 16-102, NF T 51-071 and NF C 20-455.
Other silicone compounds favoured by mass transport manufacturers
Other flame-retardant silicone rubber compounds that we supply to mass transit and aerospace industry manufacturers include FR770/xxW, which has been tested to London Underground standards, and FRxxSB2, which is a flame-retardant grade suitable for extruding complex shapes and other items.
The critical role of silicone rubber in the mass transport manufacturing process
The pressure on our mass transit and aviation systems, and the stringent regulations they have to operate according to, demands the highest standards of manufacturing. The use of silicone rubber components, supplied by a specialist silicone rubber manufacturer, is a critical part of this production process.
Want to know more about Advanced Materials’ silicone rubber manufacturing services for the mass transit and aerospace industries?
Contact us on +44 (0)1903 713566 or sales@amsilicones.co.uk.