Fire-retardant bio-based composite panel for train interiors (FR-TRAIN)
Lead Participant:
COMPOSITES EVOLUTION LIMITED
Abstract
The FR-TRAIN project will develop a lightweight, fire-retardant, environmentally friendly composite material for
rail interiors. The shift towards high speed, nimble, electric & hybrid trains is driving the adoption of lightweight
materials, including fibre-reinforced composites. Currently, most composite rail interior panels & mouldings
use phenolic resin due to the stringent fire requirements. However, phenolics emit large amounts of CO during
combustion and their use is expected to be restricted as they contain toxic and carcinogenic compounds.
FR-TRAIN will develop a revolutionary composite material based on polyfurfuryl alcohol (PFA), a resin derived
from biomass waste, which has low flammability and smoke emission, is non-toxic, renewable and offers
benefits including faster curing and improved surface finish. The PFA resin will be used with a fibre
reinforcement and a lightweight core to produce a composite panel system, which will be tested against the
stringent rail interior standards. Initial applications are likely to be walls, floors, bulkheads and lavatory
modules, as part of the £180m/yr in European market for these materials.
rail interiors. The shift towards high speed, nimble, electric & hybrid trains is driving the adoption of lightweight
materials, including fibre-reinforced composites. Currently, most composite rail interior panels & mouldings
use phenolic resin due to the stringent fire requirements. However, phenolics emit large amounts of CO during
combustion and their use is expected to be restricted as they contain toxic and carcinogenic compounds.
FR-TRAIN will develop a revolutionary composite material based on polyfurfuryl alcohol (PFA), a resin derived
from biomass waste, which has low flammability and smoke emission, is non-toxic, renewable and offers
benefits including faster curing and improved surface finish. The PFA resin will be used with a fibre
reinforcement and a lightweight core to produce a composite panel system, which will be tested against the
stringent rail interior standards. Initial applications are likely to be walls, floors, bulkheads and lavatory
modules, as part of the £180m/yr in European market for these materials.
Lead Participant | Project Cost | Grant Offer |
---|---|---|
COMPOSITES EVOLUTION LIMITED | £87,673 | £ 61,276 |
  | ||
Participant |
||
TRB LIGHTWEIGHT STRUCTURES LIMITED | £54,764 | £ 32,858 |
People |
ORCID iD |
Brendon Weager (Project Manager) |