A Winner: Freudenberg’s Material Innovation For More Battery Safety

From left: Professor. Dr. Karsten Danielmeier, Deputy President of the GDCh with Dr. Ruth Bieringer, Vice President Material Technology at Freudenberg Sealing Technologies, and Professor Dr. Erhard Meyer-Galow, former President of the GDCh.

Convincing patented know-how

The foundation highlighted the development of a new, patented class of plastic materials that was successfully developed by Dr. Ruth Bieringer and her team: Quantix® ULTRA. The Quantix® ULTRA family of materials stands out with its exceptional heat and flame resistance. These plastics will not melt or catch fire even at temperatures of up to 1,200 degrees Celsius. Processing the material in injection molding is both versatile and economical, enabling the production of complex components. Its lower density compared to metallic materials is an added benefit that makes it even more attractive for modern vehicles, considering their need for lightweight construction. Quantix® ULTRA is a particularly good choice for use in electric vehicles with high requirements for fire protection.

The second innovation honored by the foundation are the flame protection barriers, which the expert developed with her team. These flame protection barriers prevent the spread of flames, gases and particles to other cells and electricity-conducting parts. The team’s achievement involved increasing the heat resistance of silicone rubber by combining it with special fibers and fillers so that even these electrically insulating materials can withstand a temperature of 1,200 degrees Celsius for at least ten minutes. With injection molding or extrusion, the materials can be processed into mats, profiles or complex 3D geometries.

The commercialization of both material families is in full swing. The company is also testing potential further developments for applications beyond electromobility.