Since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic many people have had, or may feel, reluctant to take public transport, because of the perceived risk of erectile dysfunction. germs from areas such as the poles holding trains, buses and trams, which are the main point of contact.
However, a team including researchers from WMG at the University of Warwick, product designers Transport Design International (TDI), microbial additive developers BioCote and Promethean Particles and the Government Health and Safety (HSE), led by manufacturers based in Derby Composites Braiding Limited (CBL), will produce lightweight grip poles with anti-microbial properties rooted in their AMICABLE project, thanks to a £ 480,000 prize from the Innovate UK Smart Grant scheme.
The anti-microbial grip poles will be for use in a wide range of public transport applications, such as bus, tram, rail and underground. This should lead to a significant change in hygiene in public transport and a reduction in the spread of diseases of various origins.
While researchers are currently focusing on public transport applications, there may be potential for the materials to be used on cruise ships, medical furniture or wherever there is a public surface.
The teams, from WMG, CBL and TDI have previously worked together to produce the materials for the Coventry Very-Light Rail system, drawing on their knowledge from projects and concepts developed as is effective against microbiology in areas such as food packaging and healthcare. , they hope to make the new grip poles within the next 12 months. At the end of the project there is an opportunity to demonstrate, for the first time, the direct grip poles inside new prototype vehicles such as the Revolution VLR and the Coventry Light Rail system.
The poles themselves are easy to replace, so not only can they be installed in new vehicles, they can replace existing steel poles such as buses and the Underground. The project aims to make a range of poles at competitive costs to the current steel ones, however, due to their light weight material they will be around a third of the weight and will also help by achieving disarmament goals by aiding fuel efficiency and manufacturing. through lower carbon methods.
As we work to develop future public transport solutions such as the Coventry Very-Light Rail system, the Covid-19 pandemic has opened our eyes to the importance of making transport so as clean as possible for passengers. Clearly the main point of contact for passengers is the grab poles and other similar structures. Thus, the introduction of anti-microbial grip poles in vehicles could encourage more people to choose public transport which is generally an efficient mode of transportation for the environment. “
Dr Darren Hughes, WMG, University of Warwick
James Taylor, from TDI, said:
“TDI specializes in the design of ultra-lightweight vehicles and products so the introduction of this new anti-microbiological technology in thermoplastic assemblies for indoor products A new vehicle to surrender is a very exciting opportunity. “
Steve Barbour, a Derby-based expert in VAT thermoplastic braiding adds:
“By using in-mold coating protection and fiber blending methods, anti-microbial particles are introduced into the component rails during the design process. Importantly, since the material is anti-microbial applied during manufacturing, it will be a permanent part of the structure and therefore less prone to wear, however, when it reaches the end of its life the thermoplastic matrix material will be recycled to basic, making the grip poles environmentally friendly. “