Edilon)(Sedra and Huntsman Polyurethanes' European business development team have made a polyurethane (PU) foam that is reducing noise pollution on busy urban transport networks. Designed for use in vibration-dampening elastomers, Acoustiflex V is a versatile MDI-based foam (methylene diphenyl diisocyanate) created to improve the performance of Edilon Trackelast - a range of flexible pads and mats.These products act as a fastening and cushioning mechanism between rail tracks and the surface materials on which they sit. With advanced load-bearing characteristics, Acoustiflex V helps Edilon Trackelast support systems to evenly distribute the physical forces and vibrations produced when a train travels over a section of track.
Its dampening capabilities smooth out any irregularities in a track's surface, virtually eliminating the dull but pervasive rumbling noise produced by a moving train. This type of disturbance is a long-term problem in densely populated urban areas where the installation of new public transport networks is growing rapidly. In addition, Acoustiflex V helps Edilon Trackelast increase the lifetime of railway sleepers.
It reduces the repeated impact of train wheels over time, mitigating any track movement, preventing the attrition of any supporting ballast and cutting track maintenance costs. Edilon Trackelast products based on Acoustiflex V have already been successfully deployed by some of Europe's leading rail authorities, achieving critical acclaim in light and heavy rail projects from Madrid to Warsaw and from Helsinki to Kumamoto.
