Boost for E-Motors

Newly developed thermoplastic compounds from Freudenberg provide improved thermal conductivity and electrically insulating properties for higher performance in electric motors.

In developing the materials, Freudenberg Sealing Technologies focused on engineering polymers used as bobbins or slot liners. Primarily used to provide insulation in the slot between the motor winding and the magnetic plate, bobbins also act as container for stator windings, help retain shape, provide rigidity, offer ease of assembly of the windings onto the stator core and help protect the windings from damage and vibration during assembly and operation.

The Power of Plastics

Engineered plastics are heavily influenced by filler reinforcements. Although unfilled polymers typically have a thermal conductivity of ~0.2 W/m/K, the appropriate choice of fillers can increase this value many-fold. Szparagowski and a team of material experts have successfully developed several material grades that enable Freudenberg to offer a customized solution that can be matched to specific application requirements. Each grade offers a unique blend of material characteristics (tensile strength and elongation properties) and physical attributes (electrical and thermal properties) achieved by adjusting the filler. The higher level of filler used in new TCEI grades result in a stiff material that can be molded in thin cross-sections. Thinner designs that use less material are now possible. And extensive material testing confirms their superior thermally conductive and electrically isolating properties.