POLYURETHANE TAPE TECHNOLOGY IS BEING USED TRAINS TO IMPROVE WATERPROOFING & RELIABILITY

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POLYURETHANE TAPE TECHNOLOGY IS BEING USED TRAINS TO IMPROVE WATERPROOFING & RELIABILITY
02 November 2005 - 3M Europe

Polyurethane tape technology from 3M is being used on Metronet Rail's Central Line trains to improve waterproofing and reliability. Metronet, responsible for upgrading, replacing and maintaining two-thirds of the London Tube is constantly looking for ways to reduce train faults that could not only lead to delays for the travelling public but result in severe fines.

3M Clear Polyurethane Tape was first applied to Central Line carriages three years ago, but since last year this waterproofing tape has been applied to the front and back of around 200 carriages that run continuously.

"When water gets into the cab of a Central Line train through rivets and seams, the driver can refuse to take it out if there's a danger they could get wet or water could damage the electrics," says Andy Stuart, key account manager, Transportation Business (Rail) at 3M. "This causes delays and can be very costly for Metronet with possible fines of up to £20,000. With this in mind, we agreed to apply the polyurethane tape to the front and back of the train carriages, and this has meant big savings for the customer."

The tape comes in four inch-wide strips, and not only does its durability and reliability ensure it is non-permeable, but its transparency also means it doesn't obscure the distinctive red colour of the trains.

"The tape is working very well," says Marcus Boyd, modifications manager on Metronet Central Line trains. "It's difficult to notice that it's been applied, so from a cosmetic standpoint this is great. The tape's life expectancy is 30 years and it can be painted over, which is a bonus if we ever have to change the colour of the trains."

Underlining 3M's strong relationship with this customer, the tape, which is also used in car production and in aerospace, is applied to the Metronet trains in conjunction with other 3M products. First, a 3M solvent is applied to the carriage's surface, in order to remove grease or oil. A 3M VHB Degreaser and a 3M primer are then applied before the polyurethane tape is adhered. Finally a 3M masking tape is added around the perimeter along with a 3M two-part clear structural adhesive to edge seal the tape.

The clear polyurethane tape has proved such a success that Metronet is now considering applying it to the whole Central Line fleet.

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About: 3M Europe
3M is a $ 16 billion diversified technology company with more than 40 business units, which are organized into six markets: Transportation, Graphics and Safety, Health Care, Industrial, Consumer & Office, Electro & Communications and Specialty Material. 3M Engineered Adhesives Division provides manufacturers with a broad range of innovative bonding, sealing and fastening solutions to help improve the design, assembly and performance of their products.

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