ABEX BLUE ADAPTER - LABORATORY AND FIELD TEST RESULTS

An extensive research program was initiated to improve the crown wear resistance of the Abex ductile iron adapter. Materials tested included versalloy, medium pearlitic iron, high pearlitic iron, malleable iron, ductile iron, manganese steel and alloys of these materials with tin, magnesium and nickel. Many types of heat treatment were investigated. Surface coating with tungsten carbide plasma spray was also tried. Of all the materials tested except for manganese steel which could not be economically applied high pearlitic ductile iron with flame hardened crowns proved superior. Adapters made of this material exhibited the longest life without being detrimental to side frame ceiling life. Refrigerator cars were equipped with various experimental adapters for road test. Six of these cars were equipped with experimental high pearlitic ductile iron adapters with flame hardened crowns. The longest life was obtained with these adapters. The life averaged two to one over the best of the other adapter materials. Eleven Flexivan cars were similarly equipped. Four of these cars have been inspected and life of the flame hardened adapters was increased by factors of two to three over competitive malleable adapters.

• Corporate Authors:

  Abex Corporation

  Valley Road
  Mahwah, NJ  United States  07430
• Publication Date: 1971-2-10

Media Info

• Features: Appendices; Figures; Photos;
• Pagination: 27 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bearings; Equipment design; Field tests; Freight cars; Metal heating; Motor vehicle bodies; Refrigerator cars; Technology
• Uncontrolled Terms: Heat treatment
• Geographic Terms: United States
• Old TRIS Terms: Car body
• Subject Areas: Design; Railroads;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00040239
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: Test Rpt
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Feb 6 1973 12:00AM