Center stack from Preh: Krytox® high performance lubricant prevents noise emission

Photo: DuPont<br>During assembly of the center stack, manufactured by Preh for a large American automotive OEM, light guides made of PMMA (colored yellow for identification, see arrow) are dipped in a solution based on DuPont™ Krytox® high performance lubricant. As a result, Preh is able to reliably and durably prevent noises emanating from the contact points between the light guides, the ASA housing (colored blue in the image) and the PC cover (colored gray) when the car is moving.

Not only are the oils and greases quick and easy to apply, but they also perform just as well in extreme heat as they do in arctic temperatures – invisibly, without drying out or outgassing and without attacking the plastics and rubber.

A current example for the efficient use of Krytox® is provided by light guides used in a center stack control system manufactured by Preh GmbH (www.preh.com) for two SUVs from a large American automotive OEM. Ahead of assembly at its Mexican facility, the system supplier dips the light guides in a Krytox® solution. Following evaporation of the solvent, the remaining, ultra-thin Krytox® film on the surface of the light guides prevents noise emissions when driving.

The principal components of the so-called ‘center stack’ control system are formed by the ASA (acrylonitrile-styrene-acrylester) housing and a smoke-gray, translucent console cover which is made of PC (polycarbonate) and is facing towards the vehicle’s interior. Two light guides, made of PMMA (polymethyl methacrylate) and each with a diameter of approximately 4 mm and 260 mm long, are clipped onto the back of the housing and provide integrated ambient lighting. They are designed in such a way that they emit light along their entire length towards the console. As a result, the contour of the insert appears to be spherically illuminated, creating the impression to the vehicle occupants that the center stack is hovering weightlessly in the console.

“The devices and systems developed in Germany are subject to comprehensive long-term testing as early as the prototype stage,” comments Wolfgang Tandler, lead engineer development at Preh. “The control system withstood the shaker tests stipulated by our customer. By using Krytox® we were also able to stay under its very low threshold for noise emission.” Romy Pfitzer, project manager at Preh, adds: “We dip the light guides in a specially-produced solution that contains 5% Krytox®. The solvent evaporates very quickly, meaning that they can be installed almost immediately after immersion. In contrast to commercially-available greases, used for instance to optimize the torque of controls, Krytox® is ‘invisible’, meaning that the lighting effect remains unaffected.” Costenoble (of Eschborn/Germany) the exclusive distributor of Krytox® high performance lubricants in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, supplies specially-developed, application-specific Krytox® solutions, such as the one used by Preh, under the tradename Osixo to a range of industrial sectors.

Background information:
Krytox® oils are a perfluorinated polyether (PFPE). Krytox® greases are created by thickening these mid-viscosity oils with a powdered form of the chemically closely related DuPont™ Teflon® polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). Because the C-F bond, which is dominant in both PFPE and PTFE, is one of the most chemically and thermally stable in organic chemistry, all Krytox® products are chemically inert and oxygen resistant, resistant to reactive chemicals and – depending on grade – to temperatures between –70 °C and over 400 °C. They have a very low coefficient of friction and an extremely long service life, high mechanical stability and are insoluble in most solvents. They are color neutral and odorless, non-flammable and will not burn or support combustion. Moreover they are compatible with a whole range of current elastomers and polymers. Krytox® is supplied in barrels, bottles or aerosol cans, is environmentally neutral and can be regenerated after use. Their high lubricating effect as well as their compatibility with a wide range of additives make Krytox® high performance lubricants one of the most cost-effective universal solutions.

Typical applications in polymers include all sorts of connectors, particularly those that sit tightly around the vehicle’s electrical and electronic systems, snap-on connections and o-rings with their sensitive surfaces. In all cases, the benefits of Krytox® over alternatives such as glycerine, traditional oils and greases and particularly highly aggressive bio-oils, lie in their broad compatibility, long-term stability, temperature resistance and their freedom from resinification. With o-rings made of DuPont™ Viton® high performance fluoroelastomer in particular, the Krytox® grease products act as an additional sealant for extreme conditions.

Preh is a globally operating enterprise with about 2,400 employees in Germany, Portugal, Mexico, the U.S.A., Romania and China. Preh is headquartered in Bad Neustadt a.d. Saale, Germany. The company was founded in 1919 and achieved about 350 million Euros in revenue in 2010. Preh’s development and production competencies focus on vehicle interior control systems, sensor systems, electronic control units and assembly systems for the world’s leading vehicle manufacturers.

DuPont Fluoropolymer Solutions is a leading producer of fluoropolymer resins, additives, films, finishes and dispersions, PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene), PFA (perfluoroalkoxy), FEP (fluorinated ethylene propylene), ETFE (ethylene-tetrafluoroethylene) and PVF (polivinylfluoride), marketed under the registered trademarks DuPont™ Teflon®, DuPont™ Tefzel®, DuPont™ Tedlar® and DuPont™ Zonyl®. Major markets for these fluoropolymer products include the automotive, chemical processing, semiconductor, oil exploration, chemical handling, data communication, aerospace, electronics, housewares, building and renewable energy industries.

DuPont (www.dupont.com) is a science-based products and services company. Founded in 1802, DuPont puts science to work by creating sustainable solutions essential to a better, safer, healthier life for people everywhere. Operating in more than 90 countries and regions, DuPont offers a wide range of innovative products and services for markets including agriculture and food; building and construction; communications; and transportation.
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The DuPont Oval Logo, DuPont, The miracles of science and product names denoted with ® are registered trademarks or trademarks of E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company or its affiliates.

DP-LUB-2011-01

Note to the editor:
This press release is based on information provided by:
Preh GmbH
Schweinfurter Str. 5 – 9
D-97616 Bad Neustadt a. d. Saale
Tel.: +49 (0) 9771 92-0
Fax: +49 (0) 9771 92-300
automotive@preh.de
Editorial contact
Horst Ulrich Reimer
Public Relations Manager Europe, Middle East, Africa
Performance Chemicals & Fluoroproducts
Tel.: +49 (0) 6102 18-1297
Fax: +49 (0) 6102 18-1318
Mobile: +49 (0) 170 915 8742
horst-ulrich.reimer@dupont.com

Media Contact

Horst Ulrich Reimer DuPont

More Information:

http://www.dupont.com

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