TriStar has partnered with the railway industry for over two decades. Our composite bearing materials have been utilized in virtually every segment of the industry ─ from transit and freight cars to right-of-way maintenance systems and critical safety equipment at transit stations. In scores of diverse applications, our composite materials have proven a critical component of North America’s rail infrastructure.
Unique Properties Make Our Composites Ideal for Demanding Rail Applications
What makes our materials unique is that we offer a broad range of options for heavy loads, impact/vibration conditions, and long life ─ all without external lubrication requirements. Our Ultracomp product is a self-lubricating, high-load polyester composite designed for the oscillating and linear motion typically found on rail cars. It stands up to harsh undercarriage conditions such as weather exposure, UV exposure, road ballast from the track, and high levels of environmental contamination, all of which can lead to rapid wear and, ultimately, costly failure.
Rail industry applications for Ultracomp include mission-critical undercarriage components such as couplers, draft gear, cushioning devices, truck support bearings, compressors, brake beams, caliper systems, control boxes, and auxiliary power systems. Other high-impact applications include railway maintenance systems, railyard locomotives, track switching gear, and crossing gates, as well as pedestrian safety systems at stations.
For transit systems, our Ultracomp UC200FR is the material of choice because it meets all three requirements under transportation safety standards for materials; it will not sustain a flame during a fire, produces no toxic gasses, and passes smoke density tests. In addition, our Trilon composite meets the same flammability requirements, is also self-lubricating, and is extensively used in the yellow bumpers found in the largest subway system in North America to prevent friction between the train and platform upon arrival.
Ultracomp has Proven its Worth in the Rail Industry Offering Years of Maintenance-Free Service
Ultracomp has outstanding abrasion resistance and requires no grease, which helps prevent abrasive contamination getting into the bearing interface. Ultracomp also has the highest impact strength of any current thermoplastic or thermoset composite, has a static compressive value of over 50,000 psi, and generates very low friction.
Reach Out to the Composite Bearing Experts if you Need a Recommendation
If you have a need for a material that outperforms in linear, oscillating, and rotary applications in either wet or dry environments, we encourage you to reach out to our experts to discuss the many benefits of Ultracomp bearing materials.