EPTA行業簡報會-鐵路市場拉擠復合材料的機會-討論了在鐵路部門更多采用復合材料的驅動因素，以及越來越多的應用于拉擠部件的問題。

　　不斷增長的人口、加速的城市化、資源稀缺和氣候變化正在推動人們對更可持續的流動性解決方案的需求。要建立一條適合21世紀的鐵路，就需要在鐵路車輛和基礎設施方面進行大量投資?，F代化戰略要求更好、更節能、更快、更安全、更舒適、運行更可靠、更符合成本效益的列車。新技術和新材料將在這一轉變中發揮重要作用。復合材料可以提供成本效益高、用途廣泛的替代傳統建筑材料，而不損害安全。這為列車運營者、鐵路車輛和基礎設施所有者以及終的客戶提供了優勢，包括：

　　可持續性改進：每公里二氧化碳排放量減少；

　　運營效益：能源成本低，加速速度快，有效載荷增加；

　　降低生命周期成本：快速安裝，降低維護，降低更新頻率；

　　增強功能：新的設計理念，多功能組件，定制解決方案.

　　EPTA秘書Elmar Witten博士解釋說：“隨著國際政策繼續推動減少運輸活動中的二氧化碳排放，對復合材料等輕質材料的需求將增加。”“列車內部對輕質、高性能、防火材料的需求增加，將有利于拉擠構件，隨著時間的推移，在內部應用中得到證實的性能將加強在結構應用中采用復合材料的理由。鐵路部門日益關注整個壽命成本，這是提高復合材料相對于其他材料的競爭地位的一個進一步因素。“

　　拉擠工藝是為數不多的連續復合材料制造工藝之一，它使成本效益高、批量生產的零件具有持續的高質量。作為多材料設計的一部分，拉擠復合材料制造的機車車輛部件可以為輕量化計劃做出重大貢獻，并降低壽命成本。擠壓型材可以在外部和內部的應用，使創新的多功能設計不可能與金屬。大型外部車身部件，如側面面板和鋼軌，可以用綜合的功能元素和定制的形狀制造。屋頂面板可以跨越整個天花板從一個窗口到另一個窗口，這是可能的集成空調管道和暖氣通道的結構。隔斷、行李架和存儲單元、桌子、窗飾、餐飲和衛生間模塊以及門組件是拉擠型材的一些進一步應用。

　　在鐵路基礎設施中，與鋼、混凝土和木材相比，耐久的耐腐蝕復合材料提供了結構性能優越的低維護解決方案，并提供了快速安裝和延長資產壽命。擠壓復合材料提供機會創造預制，模塊化的解決方案，使快速安裝現場。通常比類似的鋼結構輕30%左右，復合人行天橋可以方便地作為預制組件或完整的結構從一個工廠運輸到另一個地點，以便在一夜之間安裝。與金屬不同的是，玻璃纖維復合材料不需要電接地，這使它們成為理想的應用，如電纜托盤，第三軌道覆蓋，鐵路接頭，履帶柜和壓載保持系統。進一步的基礎設施應用包括軌枕和路堤支護系統、隧道襯砌板、通道平臺、柵欄和障礙物。
 

　　As the rail sector looks to technologies to enable it to answer sustainability, performance and cost challenges, applications for pultruded composites are set to grow, according to a report from the European Pultrusion Technology Association (EPTA). Lightweight, high performance, durable composite materials offer energy efficient solutions with lower environmental impact and reduced through-life costs in rolling stock and rail infrastructure.

　　Pultruded composites on track for growth in the rail sector

　　The EPTA industry briefing, Opportunities for pultruded composites in the rail market, discusses the drivers for increased adoption of composite materials in the rail sector and the growing number of applications for pultruded components.

　　Growing populations, accelerating urbanisation, resource scarcity and climate change are driving demand for more sustainable mobility solutions. Significant investment in rolling stock and infrastructure will be required to create a railway fit for the 21st century. Modernisation strategies call for improved, energy efficient trains which are faster, safer and more comfortable, and which operate more reliably and cost effectively. New technologies and materials will play a big role in this transformation. Composite materials can offer cost effective, versatile alternatives to traditional construction materials, without compromising safety. This provides advantages for the train operator, rolling stock and infrastructure owners, and ultimately the customer, including:

　　sustainability improvements: reduced carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions per passenger km;

　　operational benefits: lower energy costs, faster acceleration, increased payload;

　　reduced lifecycle costs: fast installation, lower maintenance, reduced renewal frequency;

　　enhanced functionality: new design concepts, multi-functional components, customised solutions.

　　"As international policies continue to push to mitigate CO2 emissions from global transport activity, demand for lightweight materials such as composites will increase," explains Dr Elmar Witten, Secretary of EPTA. "Increased demand for lightweight, high performance, fire retardant materials for train interiors will favour pultruded components, and proven performance in interior applications over time will strengthen the case for adoption of composites in structural applications. The rail sector's growing focus on through-life costs is a further factor improving the competitive position of composites against other materials."

　　The pultrusion process, one of the few continuous composites manufacturing processes, enables the cost-effective, high volume production of parts with consistently high quality. As part of a multi-material design, rolling stock components manufactured from pultruded composites can provide a significant contribution to lightweighting initiatives and reduce through-life costs. Pultruded profiles can find applications in both external and internal parts, enabling innovative multi-functional designs not possible with metals. Large exterior body parts such as side panels and cant rails can be manufactured with integrated functional elements and customised shapes. Roof panels can span the whole ceiling from window to window, and it is possible to integrate air conditioning ducts and heating channels into the structure. Partitions, luggage shelves and storage units, tables, window trims, catering and toilet modules, and door components are some of the further applications for pultruded profiles.

　　In rail infrastructure, durable, corrosion resistant composites deliver low maintenance solutions of superior structural performance compared to steel, concrete and wood, and offer rapid installation and extended asset life. Pultruded composites offer the opportunity to create prefabricated, modular solutions which enable fast installation on site. Typically around 30% lighter than similar steel structures, composite pedestrian bridges can be easily transported from factory to site as prefabricated assemblies or as a complete structure, for installation overnight. Unlike metals, glass fibre composites do not need to be electrically earthed, making them ideal for applications such as cable trays, third rail covers, rail joints, and trackside cabinets and ballast retention systems. Further infrastructure applications include sleepers and embankment shoring systems, tunnel lining panels, access platforms, and fencing and barriers.