Adhesives and special lubricants for train brake systems.

Brake systems in trains

Braking systems play an essential role in trains, as they slow down and stop the train by applying contact material to the rotating wheels or discs attached to the axles. The contact material used for braking is usually in the form of a pad or shoe.

Due to the high friction forces present during braking, brake systems require durable and robust connection mechanisms.

Adhesives for brake bonding applications in the railway segment

Adhesives can be used for bonding brake pads and shoes in trains. The use of adhesives has unique advantages over mechanical bonding devices, including light weight, corrosion resistance, temperature resistance and ease of application. These factors also improve strength, reduce costs, increase durability and reduce maintenance frequency.

More specifically, the adhesives that can be successfully used for bonding train brakes should have the following characteristics:

Excellent temperature resistance
High adhesion to metals subject to friction
High adhesion to steel and aluminium

Huntsman Araldite offers two adhesives (and dip coatings) that have been successfully used to bond train brake shoes and pads.

L’ARALDITE® 64-1 is a vinyl modified phenolic resin specifically designed for use as a friction lining adhesive. It has been used effectively for brake bonding in railway applications for many years. It can be applied by roller or spray.

L’ARALDITE® 71 is another vinyl-modified phenolic resin that can be used as an adhesive for brake shoes. It can be applied by extrusion or roller coating.

Discover our complete range of adhesives for railway applications to optimise all your railway systems and processes.

Contact-us

Special lubricants for train brake systems

Lubricants are also extremely important in the design and maintenance of train braking systems. The use of lubricants has advantages such as corrosion resistance, temperature resistance and ease of application. These factors also improve strength by reducing friction and wear, reduce costs, increase durability and reduce maintenance frequency.

Specifically, lubricants that can be successfully used for the lubrication of train brake systems should have the following characteristics :

Excellent temperature resistance
High corrosion resistance
High adhesion to metal
Low coefficient of friction

DuPont™ Molykote® offers a wide selection of products (sometimes even symbolized by the SNCF) used for the lubrication of train braking systems:

MOLYKOTE® Longterm 2 Plus, is a grease for open bearings or gears that adheres in the wet environment and is used for the lubrication of brake unit connectors. It is an extreme pressure grease with good corrosion resistance.

MOLYKOTE® Longterm 00, is a highly adhesive semi-closed gear grease used for the lubrication of hydraulic brake cylinders.

MOLYKOTE® PG-54, is a low friction grease with a wide temperature range (50°C to +180°C) used for the lubrication of brake system seals.

MOLYKOTE® 55 o-Ring, is a dynamic seal grease with good oxidation resistance and a wide temperature range (-65 to +178°C). It is used for the lubrication of the pneumatic braking system of trains, the lubrication of O-rings. It also protects against excessive wear.

MOLYKOTE® 3400 A Lead Free, is an anti-friction coating with excellent lubricating and corrosion protection properties. It is applied to brake system screws. The anti-friction coating also has a low coefficient of friction and excellent adhesion to metal.

MOLYKOTE® Powder Spray, is a dry friction and wear reducing lubricant providing excellent adhesion to metal surfaces. Molykote® Powder Spray is used for the lubrication of hydraulic brake cylinders.

Contact-us