Evaluation of the Effect of the Coating Thickness of Fabric-type Thermal Insulation Paint to Reduce Rail Temperatures in Summer

Abstract

The thermal expansion of rails during summer causes buckling, which is a primary cause of major accidents such as train derailments. Although operating organizations have been making various efforts to solve this problem, the effect is insignificant. Therefore, thermal insulation paint has been recently applied to rail tracks to confirm its excellent temperature reduction effect and sustainable durability. However, the painting method is time-consuming for on-site construction and uniform work quality is difficult to maintain because it is greatly affected by the outdoor environment. Therefore, in this study, we developed a fabric-type thermal insulation paint that can be pre-fabricated with uniform quality and easily installed and dismantled on-site. In particular, fabrics suitable for applying thermal insulation paints were selected, and the effect of the coating thickness on the thermal insulation performance was evaluated. In the future, the application of fabric-type thermal insulation paint is expected to contribute to the efficient temperature reduction of rails in summer and improve driving safety.