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Fibre reinforced polymers |
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evaluated |
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Fibre reinforced polymers are composite materials consisting of fibres dispersed in a continuous matrix phase. Due to a number of characteristic advantages, fibre reinforced polymers have a great future potential for railways and other transportation technologies. Because of their low weight they can make a decisive contribution to the design of light-weight vehicles.
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Technology field: Mass reduction
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General information
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Description
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General criteria
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Environmental criteria
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Economic criteria
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Application outside railway sector
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Overall rating
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Overall potential: promising |
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Time horizon: mid-term |
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Fibre reinforced polymers are one of the keys to further progress in light-weight construction in railways. Due to their very good performance in many areas, in mid term fibre reinforced composites will become a standard substitute for steel and other materials in many railway applications. Whereas non-structural components made from fibre reinforced materials play a growing role in railway vehicles, most structural applications require more R&D efforts. Railway operators can give however little impulses in this field but rather depend on the developments in mass markets (automotive etc). |
date created: 2002-10-09 |
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© UIC - International Union of Railways 2003 |
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