SABIC Unveils LNP Compound at Automotive Tech Week 2021
SABIC has made its debut at Automotive Tech Week 2021 with LNP LUBRILOY N2000 compound, a new internally lubricated material that helps prevent buzz-squeak-rattle (BSR) noise in automotive interiors.
Showcased here at the company’s booth (#330), the new LNP compound is based on an amorphous blend and offers both molded-in color capability and paintability.
“A quiet, smooth ride is a hallmark of automotive quality and luxury, but cabin sounds can be more noticeable in electric and hybrid vehicles due to the absence of source noise from their powertrains,” said Ed Williams, Senior Product Manager, LNP Compounds, SABIC. “Our new LNP LUBRILOY N2000 compound is highly effective at limiting buzz-squeak-rattle noise and eliminates the need for secondary applications such as felts or tapes. This latest material innovation helps our customers provide a more enjoyable driving experience for consumers.”
The proprietary, compatibilized olefinic alloy is free of silicone and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE).
By replacing standard PC/ABS with this innovative, drop-in material, automotive OEMs and tiers can significantly reduce friction and stick-slip behavior between molded parts to limit or prevent unwanted noise.
SABIC’s proprietary lubricating technology is based on a fully compatibilized olefinic alloy. It enables the LNP LUBRILOY N2000 compound to deliver a low coefficient of friction (COF) and excellent wear performance in plastic parts moving over metal and plastic surfaces. When evaluated using the BSR test VDA 230-206, LUBRILOY N2000 compound demonstrated a risk priority number (RPN) of less than 3 versus non-modified PC/ABS materials that typically have values greater than 5.
In addition to automotive interior parts – such as mirror housings and trim, cupholders, button guides and heating-ventilation-air conditioning (HVAC) frames – the new material can potentially be used in consumer electronics applications where reduced friction or improved wear is required.
In July 2020, the European Commission placed limitations on the amount of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), its salts and PFOA-related substances that can be present in a material.
This industrial surfactant was commonly used during the production of PTFE. Suppliers now must certify that materials containing PTFE fall below the recommended PFOA threshold (<25 ppb).
With LNP LUBRILOY N2000 compound, manufacturers can now emulate the tribological performance of traditional lubricated materials while avoiding the use of PTFE and, therefore, any trace impurities from PFOA that may be present in PTFE.
