Carbon fiber composite material is an advanced composite material with high strength and low weight. Its strength and creep resistance are better than steel. When used in high-speed rail, subway and other rail vehicles in the form of parts, it can not only reduce the weight of the car body It can make a contribution and can effectively improve the carrying capacity and service quality of locomotives. It is especially suitable for the working environment of high-frequency, high-load, and long-distance vehicles. It has special significance for reducing energy consumption and extending service life.
With the continuous maturity of the application technology of carbon fiber composite materials, its application in rail vehicles is also increasing. The emergence of thermoplastic carbon fiber composite materials will provide more development opportunities for the upgrading and upgrading of rail vehicles.
The traditional rail vehicle inner wall panel is made of ultra-thin glass steel plate, but the rigidity of this kind of wall panel is not enough. Generally, aluminum alloy reinforcing material is used as the keel of the wall panel, and the rigidity is greatly increased while meeting the standard. The weight of the wall panel has a negative impact on the long-term operation of rail vehicles. The carbon fiber composite wall panels of the same thickness can not only easily meet the strength requirements, but also achieve a lighter weight with a simple structure.
As far as the current situation is concerned, the application proportion of carbon fiber composite materials in high-speed rail vehicles is far greater than that in subway vehicles. Due to the complexity of the manufacturing process, due to cost considerations, in reality high-speed rail seats only use carbon fiber composite materials in some parts, but these parts alone can significantly improve the rigidity and stability of the seat and increase The service life of the seat.
At the same time, the application of carbon fiber composite materials in the driver's cab is also increasing. From the driver's bridge panel to the overall interior structure of the cab, carbon fiber composite materials are gradually replacing traditional metal materials. In the past, most of these components were made of metal, which was not only self-important, but also prone to corrosion during use, which affected the service life and aesthetics.
After using carbon fiber composite materials to make these parts, the weight will be greatly reduced and the mechanical performance will be better. For example, a tailor-made driver’s cab deck for a certain type of high-speed rail vehicle has a weight reduction of 45% and a 25% increase in strength compared with the previous metal deck. Its corrosion resistance is stronger, and it can be used for a long time. It can still maintain good performance and appearance.
In order to further break the international technical barriers and fully meet the huge demand for high-performance thermoplastic carbon fiber composite products in China's domestic rail vehicle industry, some excellent carbon fiber technology companies in China focus on the infiltration problem between continuous carbon fiber tow and high-performance thermoplastic resin. Innovative exploration of production equipment for the preparation technology of continuous carbon fiber reinforced thermoplastic composite prepreg tapes, breaking through the equipment limitations of continuous carbon fiber and high-performance thermoplastic resin melt impregnation, and realizing continuous carbon fiber reinforced PPS, PA6, PES and other composites The mass production of unidirectional prepreg tape/woven products has become a typical representative of high-efficiency manufacturing and new applications of thermoplastic carbon fiber composite parts used in rail transit and other fields.
This independent and innovative technology related to carbon fiber composite materials will strongly promote the transformation and upgrading of China's rail transit industry, and will continue to radiate other industries such as aerospace, medical care, new energy, high-end equipment and precision electronics.