In the modern transportation network where high-speed trains zoom and subways glide, the durability and safety of trains are of paramount importance. Facing challenges such as extreme climates, mechanical wear, and chemical corrosion, a material originally developed for aerospace applications—polysilazane (PSZ)—is quietly making its way into the rail transit sector, adorning trains with intelligent "ceramic armor."

Ultra-Robust Protection: Making Trains "Immune to Freezing and Rust"
China's high-speed rail network stretches from the frigid landscapes of Harbin to the humid, salt-laden environments of Hainan. Traditional coatings tend to crack and peel under repeated freeze-thaw cycles and salt spray corrosion. However, the Si-O-Si ceramic network formed after the curing of polysilazane can withstand temperatures as low as -60°C and maintain long-term corrosion resistance for over a decade in coastal regions with high humidity and salinity. Remarkably, this material can self-repair minor damages by triggering a reaction with moisture in the air, automatically filling microcracks—like gifting the train a "healing skin."

Fire-Resistant Breakthrough: An Invisible Barrier That Halts Flames in 3 Seconds
Tunnel fires pose a significant safety hazard in rail transit. When exposed to temperatures above 800°C, polysilazane rapidly ceramicizes to form a dense barrier layer, effectively delaying the softening of steel structures. Tests conducted by a German laboratory revealed that aluminum alloy carriage panels coated with PSZ remained unpenetrated by open flames for over 15 minutes, buying precious time for passenger evacuation. In the future, this material may become the new standard for fire-resistant coatings in high-speed train interiors.

Smart Coatings: An Energy-Saving "Breathing" Outer Layer
By embedding thermochromic microcapsules into polysilazane, self-adjusting smart coatings can be developed. These coatings automatically darken to absorb solar heat in winter and reflect infrared rays to reduce air conditioning energy consumption in summer. Simulation experiments have shown that such "chameleon" coatings can reduce a train's overall energy consumption by 7%. More cutting-edge research is exploring the integration of carbon nanotubes to endow the train body with both anti-icing and electromagnetic shielding capabilities.

From Lab to Track: A Material Revolution Accelerates
Although currently more expensive (approximately three times the cost of traditional coatings), a domestic EMU manufacturer has already initiated plans for the mass production of PSZ coatings. With the civilian application of space materials technology advancing, perhaps in five years, smart trains will be fully equipped with this "thinking" ceramic coating, granting 300 km/h steel behemoths the superpower of "self-protection."

As science fiction becomes reality, polysilazane is scripting a new materials legend on the tracks—this is not merely an upgrade of coatings but a pivotal step toward the "vitalization" of transportation vehicles.

Room termperature curing polysilazane, pls check IOTA 9150, IOTA 9150K.       
High termperature curing polysilazane, pls check IOTA 9108, IOTA 9118.