Whitford Coating helps keep revolutionary magnetic "hover train" on track

Citation

(2003), "Whitford Coating helps keep revolutionary magnetic "hover train" on track", Anti-Corrosion Methods and Materials, Vol. 50 No. 6. https://doi.org/10.1108/acmm.2003.12850fad.001

Whitford Coating helps keep revolutionary magnetic "hover train" on track

Whitford Coating helps keep revolutionary magnetic "hover train" on track

Keywords: Coatings, Propulsion, Automotive industry

New Maglev super-trains, which "hover" above tracks on an electromagnetic field, are relying on a specialised conductive coating developed by Whitford Plastics Ltd to achieve maximum efficiency and aid passenger comfort (Plate 1).

Plate 1 Maglev super-train

Maglev train technology takes its name from the principle of magnetic levitation. It is this ability to ride on a magnetic field that has allowed test trains in Germany, run by the Transrapid Consortium, to reach speeds in excess of 500 km/h with passengers on board. Transrapid has specified the Xylan coating, and Whitford is supplying the material to both Draka and Nexans in Germany, two of the world's largest cable-manufacturers.

More typically used on temperature- sensitive substrates and automotive EPDM extrusions, the Xylan 1642 flexible coating is a weather- and chemical-resistant, conductive two-stage coating. Xylan 1642 drains away static and disperses it elsewhere, so that it cannot interfere with smooth running of the train. At speeds in excess of 400 km/h, static build-up can cause the train to sway, causing travel sickness in passengers. Xylan's exceptionally low coefficient of friction was another key element in its application on the EPDM surface of the Maglev train's power cables, providing lubrication that makes cable installation easier.

Xylan 1642 is ideal for use in a wide range of applications, including door, body and window seals for the automotive industry; it can operate between temperatures of -30 and 100°C and comes in a variety of colours. Available in an easy-to-use two-pack (containing both resin and catalyst), it can be applied by conventional spray methods, producing a dry film thickness of 16 ± 8 μm.

The propulsion system for Maglev trains uses the basic principle of electromagnetic attraction and repulsion. A magnetic field created by electrified coils in the guideway walls and track repels guidance magnets attached to the train's underside, suspending the train approximately 1 cm above the track on the opposing magnetic forces. The propulsion coils located in the sidewalls of the track use an alternating current, which creates a shift in the magnetic field. On-board superconducting magnets are attracted and pushed by this shifting field, propelling the Maglev train along.

Currently undergoing trial runs in China, the first Transrapid Maglev train will service the 70 km connection between Pudong Shanghai International Airport and Shanghai's financial district. This service is due to start early next year, and will be the springboard for many more planned Maglev train networks across the globe, including services between Shanghai – Hangzou and Shanghai – Beijing in China, Bangkok – Chang Mai in Thailand, and various routes in Europe and the United States.