With a new high-performance material, Freudenberg Sealing Technologies (FST) has announced that its shock absorbers can reliably do their job even in extremely low temperatures, down to -40˚F. At the same time, the new material mixture, which is coming into use in damper seals for cars and commercial vehicles, is much more wear-resistant than conventional materials, the company says. The first-ever series production of the seals begins in the spring of 2016.

When a rubber component is continuously cooled, it loses its elastic characteristics at a certain temperature. It is hard as glass beneath this threshold – which is why engineers talk about the “glass transition point,” according to the company. Fluoro rubber mixtures are used in the seals incorporated into many shock absorbers today. These materials become very brittle at around -4˚F. The dampers maintain their leak tightness at even lower temperatures, but they are susceptible to damage, especially when high lateral loads are applied to the damper – for example, when a car runs over a high curb.

The first high-volume application of the new technology is imminent. A European automaker is using seals made of the new material mixture from FST as monotube shock absorbers for SUVs. “Vehicles of this type are in use worldwide and have to prove themselves in both Siberia and the desert,” said Jürgen Emig, who heads product development for shock absorber seals at the company.

Since the increased low-temperature resistance is solely due to the improved material characteristics, no design changes in the shock absorber are required. This also makes it possible to convert existing vehicle models to the new seals retroactively.

Shock absorbers in commercial vehicles are another application for the new sealing material. It is expected to go into series production in 2017.