The Spanish plastics technology center Aimplas participated in the completion of the EU MAT4RAIL project aimed at developing new materials and new components for future rail transit. The goals of the project include weight reduction through the replacement of metals with composite materials, and the improvement of passenger capacity and passenger comfort through the intelligent module interior design. The project started in 2017 and was completed by the Spanish applied research organization Cidetec.
In the project, Aimplas is mainly responsible for the development of new mixed resin formulations that improve the flame retardant performance of fiber-reinforced composite materials. The research results are gratifying, and the new formula can also be used in the fields of construction, automobiles and aviation.
In addition, in order to be able to replace metal parts, the project team evaluated the performance of the new materials on the structural parts. In order to further clarify the relevant regulations on the fatigue performance of rail vehicles, the project participants jointly carried out a lot of work. The content involves standardized design and calculation by sensors. At the same time, in order to improve the use efficiency of different materials such as composite materials and metals, the research team also studied the connection technology between the materials.
The project also includes the use of new technologies and communication methods to improve the cabin and seats of the future cabins in order to improve the safety of the vehicle, monitor unknown objects on the track, and improve the communication status inside the vehicle. At the same time, because the multi-function panel can be connected to a variety of devices, the modular car can also have different configurations.
In addition, the new seat design will provide more passengers with a more comfortable riding experience, while also providing more seating options.
It is expected that the project will significantly improve the comprehensive performance of rail transportation infrastructure in terms of cost, operation, reliability, punctuality, passenger capacity, energy efficiency, and reduction of life cycle operation and maintenance costs.
The MAT4RAIL project brings together 16 institutions, companies and universities from seven European countries including the Aimplas Center. The project is funded by the Shift2 Rail Joint Undertaking project of the European Union, which is a public-private joint venture project established under the European Union ’s “Horizon 2020 Framework Project”. It invested nearly 1 billion euros in rail transportation technology between 2014 and 2020 Research and innovation to improve the passenger and freight capacity of European railways.