Dispensable Silicones for Electric Vehicles (EV): SD101 & SD140 Kits
From initial concept to production, Parker's engineering teams support many of the world’s leading manufacturers in the ever changing trends of the industry, helping them to expand their geographical footprint and achieve optimal operational efficiency.
These are just a few of the many applications and challenges we have solved with our numerous O-rings, custom sealing solutions and cutting edge material science.
Sealing Challenge:
Traditional silicone molded gaskets can be used in a variety of applications on electric vehicles. They can be used for the drive unit, AC-DC inverter, and in battery closure sealing. However, traditional silicone gaskets require specific molds and additional assembly steps. Parker’s new Cure-in-Place Gasket (CIPG) silicones SD101 and SD140 are revolutionary products that combine the high performance of traditional molded gaskets with the versatility of liquid-dispensed materials. This means it can be directly applied to the component or assembly, where it then cures in place to form a robust, custom-fit seal. CIPG requires less total force to compress than traditional extruded seals, and unlike extruded gaskets which need to be seated in a groove by hand, CIPG doesn’t require manual installation. This Cure-in-Place process significantly reduces the complexity and time involved in assembly, offering significant advantages in terms of production efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
The CIPG silicone is designed to maintain its resilience, flexibility, and sealing effectiveness under varying temperature conditions, pressure, and environmental factors. This unique blend of properties results in a true elastomer performance, providing an optimal solution for many sealing applications.
Application
Custom battery pack covers that vary in size and geometry.
Problem
Customer makes custom size battery packs for various automotive applications that they need to be sealed without bonding the lid and housing. The covers can be large and complex in shape, and they want to avoid using structural adhesive. While an extruded seal may be possible, the customer wanted to avoid long assembly time and possible installation failure. They needed something that could be assembled quickly, while meeting the size and complex geometry of the covers.
Sealing Solution:
Parker recommended the use of SD140, our fastest curing CIPG, which cures in just 20 minutes at room temperature, or 3 minutes at 150°C. Product could be robotically dispensed directly onto the battery covers to any geometry that was needed. If the battery pack needed to be inspected or serviced, the cover could be removed without damaging the seal.
Outcome
SD140 was dispensed onto the covers directly using robot dispensing. It provided a sufficient seal while not damaging the housing or cover during disassembly trials. SD140 was able to meet the customers’ needs for a large, complex seal with easy assembly.
For expert assistance with your sealing solutions, contact the GFS engineering team here.
