Case Study - Reducing Noise in Electric Vehicle Interfaces

Background

Touch screen interfaces have become the entertainment and navigation hubs within electric vehicles. Unwanted noise generated from these systems can impact the quality of the system and influence consumer purchasing decisions. Electric vehicle interiors in particular must be designed to minimize noise as the absence of a combustion engine amplifies other noises within the vehicle. One automotive OEM approached Nye in search of a lubricant for their interface control to reduce noise emissions generated by the worm gear / actuator mechanism.

Challenge

• Can Nye provide a lubricant that reduces noise, vibration and harshness within the interface control system?
• Can Nye provide a lubricant that is compatible with both metal and plastics?

Solution

Fluorocarbon Gel 868VH

A PTFE thickened, very heavy viscosity, synthetic hydrocarbon grease

• Reduces noise, vibration, and harshness
• Compatible with plastics and elastomers
• Stable damping properties across temperature

Results

The customer needed a grease that was compatible with plastics and offered chemical resistance to prevent wear debris from entering the system. This debris would have introduced a source of friction that would have generated additional noise. Nye sent the customer a sample of one of our heavy viscosity damping greases. The grease was implemented in their design after life testing revealed no wear issues and the grease reduced noise in the system by 20%.

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