Transportation systems require meeting the challenge of reducing both cost and weight. These objectives can be met by replacing metal or cast components with high performance composite railroads and other heavy equipment. Norplex-Micarta offers a full line of these composites in sheet, tube, rod, and prepreg forms that are certified to meet the most challenging rail and mass transit requirements.
Light-weight components must exhibit excellent tensile, compressive, shear, and flexural strength. They must also withstand the initial impact force of installation, as well as the repeated stress of inspection and repair. Creep resistance is also an important performance criteria. Norplex-Micarta composites exhibit excellent creep resistance, making them a good alternative to standard thermoplastics.
Norplex-Micarta composites offer insulation properties when used as an electrical barrier between metal parts. They also feature low toxicity/burn characteristics critical for applications in mass transit applications. Some materials are self-extinguishing to minimize damage in the case of fire or explosion.
Electrical insulation materials from Norplex-Micarta are proven in a host of very demanding electrical applications for more than a century. The inherent electrical insulation properties of these materials, along with their structural performance, makes them an excellent choice for the increasing array of electric vehicle applications from battery trays and housings, to high performance motor insulation.
