The modern world is witnessing a profound shift towards cleaner and more sustainable energy consumption. The automotive industry plays a pivotal role in driving this change, encompassing commercial vehicles such as cars, trucks, and bikes and larger vehicles used to mass transit people and goods.
Automotive manufacturers rely heavily on the quality and performance of lightweight rubber materials to seal, insulate and protect critical functions whilst also gaining substantial marginal gains towards fuel efficiency and vehicle range capabilities.
The Opportunity and Challenge:
A global automotive provider for plastic foams and rubber products approached Silicone Engineering to assist with a critical project for a renowned international car manufacturer.
The company sought a reliable sealing solution for an electric HGV (Heavy Goods Vehicle) HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) system.
They required sealing gaskets for the HVAC units to protect them from vibration damage. The gasket needed to be lightweight and have adhesive on one side of the surface.
The Solution: kSil® GP200
From assessing the gasket design, our material engineer suggested using kSil® GP200 sponge sheeting as the material of choice for this project.
Due to kSil® GP200’s ultra-low compression force deflection and compression set, the closed cell structure of this gasket material would be able to provide excellent anti-vibration protection. The vibration-damping properties of the material isolate and absorb vibrations within the HVAC unit, minimizing noise and preventing damage to the surrounding components.
Additional benefits included thermal insulation, which helped maintain the correct cabin temperatures for the drivers. Silicone’s seismic temperature spectrum of -60°C to 230°C would also provide performance assurances in uncompressing environments such as desert climates and sub-zero terrains HGVs frequently traverse.
Following successful trials, the customer was able to provide their customer with an effective sealing solution for the HVAC units.
For technical data, click here, GP200. Click the links for more silicone applications in the Automotive and HVAC industries.
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