Development of Metal-Polymer Cargo Sled

This paper describes the design of a metal-polymer cargo sled intended for towing over a surface composed of a mixture of snow and ice with scattered rock inclusions. Several key factors were considered during the vehicle development. A standard plastic pallet, mass-produced and originally designed by the IMMS of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, served as the base for the sled cargo platform. Manufactured from a blend of low-density polyethylene, high-density polyethylene, and polypropylene, the pallet offers high strength and load-bearing capacity across a wide operating temperature range from minus 60 °C to +80 °C. Metal runners with a polymer sliding layer are used to reduce friction and wear during the operations of the Belarusian Antarctic Expedition in the coastal zone of East Antarctica (Enderby Land). The design of the runners ensures low material consumption, the necessary rigidity, and a low coefficient of friction during operation. The sled was tested in Antarctica during the 2024—2026 seasons and demonstrated good operational performance.

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