Hyperlast - Polyurethane Elastomers for the Rail Industry

From embedding rails to stabilising ballasts and reducing track noise, Hyperlast's range of specialist polyurethane elastomers for the rail industry provides superb performance in a variety of track and permanent way applications.

Hyperlast elastomer products are in use on light and heavy rail systems throughout the world, demonstrating excellent performance in service and often reducing construction and maintenance costs.

Hyperlast's global reputation for innovation ensures that it continues to develop custom products to meet the specific demands of its railway customers.

POLYURETHANE RAIL ENCAPSULATION SYSTEMS

Hyperlast's Series Six is a two-component, modified polyurethane rail encapsulation system that provides flexibility, high electrical resistance and insulation, high resistance to abrasion and tear, and excellent long-term adhesion to itself, steel, concrete and other substrates.

Non-foaming in damp conditions, Series Six has excellent resistance to water, dilute acids, alkalis and salt solutions. Series Six is supplied to light and heavy rail systems around the world by ALH Rail Coatings, a joint venture between Hyperlast and GrantRail Ltd.

STABILISING BALLASTS AND EMBANKMENTS

XiTRACK® is a special technique developed by Hyperlast and geotechnical engineering experts, 2Ei Ltd, to stabilise ballasts and embankments, and restore the performance of existing track beds by applying specially designed polymers to ballasts and other track structures to form geocomposites.

The XiTRACK technique uses state-of-the-art computer modelling software to simulate track behaviour before and after application. XiTRACK can be used to fix persistent track faults, reduce maintenance costs, improve ride comfort, maintain track speed and minimise disruption.

REDUCING FREIGHT TRAFFIC NOISE POLLUTION

Silent Track has been developed in conjunction with Corus Rail and ISVR Southampton University to reduce freight traffic noise pollution.

The Hyperlast polymer encapsulates tuned sound absorbers that are attached to the rail before service or retrofitted. Test track results demonstrate noise reductions of approximately 6dB.

SHOCK, NOISE AND VIBRATION CONTROL

Hyperlast's Dynathane® is a polyurethane elastomer designed for shock, noise and vibration control. Dynathane's damping abilities, combined with excellent chemical and mechanical properties, make it a uniquely versatile product.

Able to perform consistently from -40°C to +80°C, it is tough and lightweight. The high volume compressibility offered by moulded Dynathane components is central to their use for rail pads or boots, as in the Balfour Beatty BBEST and STS M-Bed embedded slab track systems for heavy rail.

ALH Rail Coatings are also applying Dynathane in the next generation of assembled embedded rail systems being developed for noise and vibration control in tramways and metros.

FAST REACTING POLYMERS

Traffideck® offers a unique alternative to traditional waterproofing techniques. As a fast reacting polymer that can be applied to both horizontal and vertical surfaces, it is often used on buildings, bridges, pedestrian walkways and roadways.

It can be applied at low temperatures all year round, and is clean and safe to apply, having no odour and being totally solvent free. It can also be applied to rough surfaces and its elastomeric qualities enable it to cope with structural movement to maintain its waterproofing protection.

As Traffideck is VOC and SCAQMD rule compliant, there are few environmental issues to consider, either when applying the instant setting membrane or during its lifetime.

As a specialist polyurethane designer and manufacturer, Hyperlast is renowned for the design and manufacture of its custom polyurethane systems, which are used in engineering applications including railways, marine, automotive, construction, oil and gas, insulation and protection.