## 2 Application of Reflective Thermal Insulation Coating on Railway Tracks  
In practice, a special machine is used for applying the reflective thermal insulation coating. The individual parts of the machine are depicted and explained in Figure 1. The machine can generally be divided into three parts as follows [5; 6]:  
* Rough cleaning mechanism based on the use of sandblasting: This mechanism is responsible for cleaning the surface before applying the coating. It uses the principle of sandblasting, where abrasive particles (usually sand or similar materials) are propelled at high speed onto the surface to remove dirt, debris, and old coatings and prepare the substrate for the application of the thermal insulation coating. * Soft cleaning mechanism based on the use of high-pressure air: This mechanism utilizes high-pressure air to clean the surface further. It helps to remove any remaining particles, dust, or loose materials that might affect the adhesion of the coating. The high-pressure air is directed onto the surface, effectively blowing away the contaminants. * Application of the thermal insulation coating: This part of the machine is responsible for applying the reflective thermal insulation coating onto the prepared surface. The coating material is typically stored in a reservoir, and it is applied using a spraying mechanism. The spraying mechanism ensures an even and uniform application of the coating onto the surface, maximizing its effectiveness in reflecting solar radiation and providing thermal insulation. These three parts work together to achieve proper surface preparation and application of the reflective thermal insulation coating, ensuring the best possible performance and longevity of the coating. In Figure 1, the numbered parts represent the various components of the machine that apply the reflective thermal insulation coating to the railway tracks as follows:  
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2. Sand supply module: This part of the machine is dedicated to supplying the abrasive material, typically sand, which is used for the cleaning process. 3. Air supply module: This component focuses on providing high-pressure air, which is utilized for cleaning and removing any excess materials from the surface. 4. Thermal insulation coating supply module: This component is responsible for supplying the reflective thermal insulation coating material. Figure 1: Schema of the mechanism for applying reflective thermal insulation coating on railway tracks: 1—sand supply; 2—air supply; 3—coating supply; 4—wheels; 5—sand cleaning nozzles; 6—air cleaning nozzles; 7—coating applying nozzles. 4. Wheels: This part represents the wheels of the machine that move along the railway tracks, allowing the application process to take place. 5. Nozzles for sand cleaning: These nozzles ensure the cleaning of the railway tracks using the abrasive material (sand). They direct the sand particles onto the surface to remove dirt, debris, and old coatings. 6. Nozzles for air cleaning: These nozzles are designed to remove excess sand and waste materials from the surface using high-pressure air. They help ensure a clean and properly prepared surface for the coating application. 7. Nozzles for applying the thermal insulation coating: These nozzles are responsible for applying the reflective thermal insulation coating onto the railway tracks. They distribute the coating material onto the surface evenly, allowing their effective heat reflection and thermal insulation. Figure 2 shows the mechanism and principle of cleaning rails through nozzles. Figure 2 shows the individual components of the machine that ensure the cleaning of the railway tracks using sand. The letter A shows the machine wheels, which lie on the rails. The letter B indicates the body of the machine on which the sand containers are located. The letter C indicates the nozzles that ensure the cleaning of the rails. The letter D shows the dispersion of the nozzles that clean the rails. Each nozzle is tasked with cleaning 1/3 of the rail surface to ensure the overall cleaning of the rail.