Advanced Materials in Railways to Improve Operational Efficiency
Automakers are now willing to spend millions of dollars to shed unnecessary pounds by replacing metal with composite materials and using lighter weight materials. The ultimate drivers are efficiency and the pressure to meet looming tailpipe pollution regulations of 95g-110g CO2 per kilometre travelled throughout a manufacturer's fleet. A massive task has been and will continue to be in front of us. However, it looks that any polluting industry is now on the verge of following suit, and even established sectors that have shied away from the cutting edge are being compelled to speed up their progress. Materials, metal replacement, and light weighing – all of which have been demonstrated in the automobile industry – have become a priority for forward-thinking rail engineers who are attempting to reduce rolling stock weight while simultaneously improving efficiency. Recycling carbon fiber : World's first carbon fiber rail bogie (Source: Materials Today: Proceedings) Railway Gazet...