Safe, standard-compliant thermoformable polymer blends for rail interiors

06-Nov-08

Bayer MaterialScience (BMS) supplies sheets based on polycarbonate (PC) and acryl butadiene styrene (ABS) under the trade names Bayblend® FR 3030 and Bayblend® MTR for use in interiors of the rail vehicles including local trams and high speed trains. The thermoformable polymer blend can be processed cost-effectively even in small production runs for large components (seats, protective covers, ceiling and wall panels) and provides for maximum safety. For the railway industry, the sheets are classified classified in accordance with S4/SR2/ST2 (DIN 5510-2). Both types of Bayblend® comply to stringent UL 94 and French standards (M1/F2). According to the company, Bayblend® MTR meets the U.S. standards related to fire behaviour of the sheets and smoke gas toxicity for applications in trains and satisfies requirements of the aircraft industry. This significantly reduces the risk of suffocation, the number one cause of death in fires. The elasticity modulus is remarkably high (2,750 MPa for Bayblend® FR 3030 and 3,800 MPa for Bayblend® MTR) for products with no glass fiber reinforcement. Should an accident occur, components made from these materials offer maximum protection due to their exceptional strength. At the same time, the PVDF layer also provides protection from inks, dyes and UV light and prevents the polymer components from discoloring. From an environmental perspective, the polymer blends of Bayer MaterialScience contain less than 0.2% chlorine, bromine and iodine by weight and less than 0.1% fluorine by weight and are classified as halogen-free (DIN/VDE 0472, part 815). They comply with numerous environmental labels such as the Blue Angel, the EU Flower eco-label and the Swedish TCO test label and EU directives including as RoHS (Restriction of the Use of Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment) and WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment).