In railway track work, there is growing demand for fast night repair and quick return to service. Often, there are short windows of time at night when rail tracks can be shut down for maintenance. Typical rail fixing products need a longer hardening time than this closure allows. How can you speed up the curing time of polyurethane rail fixing grouts to have rail tracks operating again quickly?
Get Rail Tracks Back in Service Fast
With Curing-by-Design technology, Sika® Icosit® KC-350 rail fixing systems can be applied and back in service very quickly.
It enables a paradigm shift in rail fixing grouts - standard maintenance work times can be followed by extremely fast curing.
*compared to standard, two-component polyurethane grouts
An Innovative Technology - Curing-by-Design
In railway track work, there is growing demand for fast night repair and quick return to service. To meet these requirements, previously-used two-component polyurethane products require specific work methods (additional equipment or tools) related to track renovation. They need a longer hardening time compared to the length of night breaks provided for maintenance work and time that is needed for the application and hardening of the material.
This issue can only be solved by smart chemical formulations powered by Curing-by-Design technology. Sika® Icosit® KC-350/45 and Sika® Icosit® KC-350/65 are both elastic rail fixing grouts which have been designed with this technology.
Sika® Icosit® KC-350 PU Grout Versus Standard Two-Component PU Grout Curing Time
Longer Open Time, Faster Curing Time
The innovative Curing-by-Design technology enables the adaption of application time and curing time to achieve the highest project process efficiency. It prolongs the open time for application and speeds up curing time once applied.
The adapted installation process makes the working time more effective. The longer open time ensures greater safety of the application, while at the same time unproductive product-curing waiting time can be minimized or even avoided.
See below an example of a timeline with the new Sika® Icosit® KC-350 Curing-by-Design versus the previous products.
Sika® Icosit® KC-350 Versus Previous Product
Open Time - Optimal Workability
Curing Time - Faster Return to Service
For Which Projects Is Curing-by-Design Technology the Best Solution?
These applications are ideal for Curing-by-Design technology in polyurethane grouts.
For tracks which need to be refurbished during one night shift, which could be sped up by using machine application
For time-critical track projects with closing time that should be as short as possible
Any project which needs to be finished quickly, to prevent interruption of other parts of the traffic network
Secure, Flexible Application Plus Easy Handling
Hand-applied
Sika® Icosit® KC-350 can be applied manually or by machine.
In many cases, these two installation methods are combined.
The combined installation capacity is approximately 500 kg/h.
Machine-applied
Advantages of machine application:
- Faster speed
- Improved, leaner logistics - 180 kg barrels are used instead of 10 kg containers
- Less effort for employees
- Better protection of the environment
- Higher potting rates are possible - carrying out larger projects in only one night is no problem
Where Can It Be Applied
Powered by the Curing-by-Design technology, Sika® Icosit® KC-350/45 and Sika® Icosit® KC-350/65 are both two-component, polyurethane grouts for fixation in ballastless rail tracks.
Sika® Icosit® KC-350 products can be applied by hand or machine. They are intended as vibration-damping, load-bearing, flexible materials for fixing grooved or T-rails in ballastless slab tracks on steel or concrete substrates in tram, metro and railway tracks, applied on bridges, in tunnels or in the road.
Benefits of Sika® Icosit® KC-350 at a Glance
Curing-by-design for fast back-to-service times
- Product open time is prolonged to allow easier application and enough time for a safe, effective installation
- Product cure time is sped up by six times, which shortens track closure
- Easy handling and safe application with ready-to-use packaging for further time savings
Helps improve urban human life quality
- Noise and vibration reduction with dampening and vibration mitigation properties
High performance features solve technical problems
- Good electrical insulation against stray currents
- Watertight rail fixation, insensitive to moisture during application
- More uniform load distribution into substrate
- Flexible, elastic (Hardness shore A: 50 – 70 depending on the product)
- Excellent adhesion on various substrates
- Dimensions tolerance-compensating (layer thickness can vary between 15 – 60 mm)
- Suitable as a powerful, shear-resistant adhesive
High quality product for longevity
- Long durability, less maintenance
- Absorbs dynamic stresses, so it prolongs the life of the tracks and superstructures
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