With approximately 15,600 staff worldwide (calculated as full-time equivalents), Covestro is a world leader in performance polymers.
The company offers a range of sheets and granules made from polycarbonate (PC) and PC blends for railway applications, some of them using PIN flame retardants to achieve demanding railway fire safety standards EN45545-2 R1/HL2 and R6/HL2 up to 2.5mm thickness, as well as F16-101, DIN 5510 and UL94-V0 at 1.5mm. PIN flame retardants ensure low smoke, achieving Docket90A/ASTM E 662 smoke density standard. Makrolon and Bayblend (see pinfa Newsletter n°49) based sheets offer lightweight solutions for windows (warranty against breakage so reducing maintenance compared to glass), seat backs, ceiling panels, flooring and other applications, so ensuring greater energy efficiency of rail vehicles while at the same time maximizing passenger safety through their flame retardance. Other applications include performance components requiring fire safety in household electrical equipment. Material characteristics include surface quality, heat deflection, strength, impact resistance, rigidity. Thermoforming production reduces costs for medium and small production runs compared to injection molding or metal components.
Covestro: see pinfa Newsletter n°76. Covestro “Lightweight Polycarbonate Sheets for Railcar Manufacture” http://www.railway-technology.com/contractors/passenger/covestro/ and BreezeDry “Case Study: PC/ABS Blend Provides Economical Solution for Parts Requiring Flame Retardancy” http://www.appliancedesign.com/articles/92453 Picture source: China South Railway Nanjing Puzhen