Cargo Restraint Panel with Friction Layer

A cargo restraint panel comprising:

• a foam core comprising a core front, a core rear, and a plurality of core sides extending between the core front and the core rear;
• a first side cap that covers a first core side of the plurality of core sides, a first portion of the core front adjacent to the first core side, and a first portion of the core rear adjacent to the first core side;
• a second side cap that covers a second core side of the plurality of core sides, a second portion of the core front adjacent to the second core side, and a second portion of the core rear adjacent to the second core side;
• an enhanced friction layer covering a portion of the core front and having a first exposed surface forming a portion of an exterior face of a front of the cargo restraint panel;
• and
• a front barrier covering at least another portion of the core front and having a second exposed surface forming at least another portion of the exterior face of the front of the cargo restraint panel, wherein a static coefficient of friction of the first exposed surface is greater than a static coefficient of friction of the second exposed surface.

A method comprising:

• placing a plurality of cargo units in a railcar;
• placing a plurality of cargo restraint panels in the railcar;
• and
• placing one or more dunnage air bags in the railcar;
• wherein each of at least first and second cargo restraint panels, of the plurality of cargo restraint panels, comprise:
• a foam core comprising a core front, a core rear, and a plurality of core sides extending between the core front and the core rear;
• a front enhanced friction layer, covering at least a portion of the core front and having a first exposed surface forming at least a portion of an exterior face of a front of the cargo restraint panel, that comprises one or more of:
• a natural rubber, a synthetic rubber, a silicone, a low-tack acrylic pressure-sensitive adhesive, or a hook and loop fastener system component material;
• and
• a rear enhanced friction layer, covering at least a portion of the core rear and having a second exposed surface forming at least a portion of an exterior face of a rear of the cargo restraint panel, that comprises one or more of:
• a natural rubber, a synthetic rubber, a silicone, a low-tack acrylic pressure-sensitive adhesive, or a hook and loop fastener system component material;
• and
• wherein, after the placing of the plurality of cargo units in the railcar, the placing of the plurality of cargo restraint panels in the railcar, and the placing one or more dunnage air bags in the railcar:
• the plurality of cargo units and the plurality of cargo restraint panels are arranged, in a front to rear direction of the railcar, in alternating groups of one or more cargo units, of the plurality of cargo units, separated by one or more restraint panels, of the one or more restraint panels,
• a dunnage air bag, of the one or more dunnage air bags, is located between, and is partially compressed by, the first cargo restraint panel and the second cargo restraint panel, and
• the dunnage air bag is contact with the first exposed surface of the first cargo restraint panel and the second exposed surface of the second cargo restraint panel.