MOLYKOTE® M-77 Paste reduces noise in the battery pack of electric vehicles

APPLICATION.

As the transportation industry electrifies and consumer demand for electric vehicles grows, battery manufacturers are finding opportunities to meet the needs of the expanding market. EV and battery manufacturers are seeking lighter and more compact solutions to achieve higher energy density and reduce costs. One immediate way to achieve these goals is to eliminate battery module housings and bond individual cells directly to the cooling plate, a strategy known as “cell-to-pack.”

THE CHALLENGE.

A battery supplier for an automotive manufacturer was trying to solve an NVH (noise, vibration and harshness) problem and improve the driving experience for drivers and passengers of electric vehicles. The battery company had found that with the sudden temperature change caused by the startup of the battery liquid cooling system, the screws connecting the cooling plate to the battery pack were making noise.

To eliminate this noise from the screws, a lubricating solution was needed to provide a quiet and comfortable ride.

The battery manufacturer needed a lubricant that would decrease noise, but also provide adequate insulation properties to protect components from thermal changes.

THE SOLUTION.

The MOLYKOTE® team was confident that they could deliver a solution that would reduce noise and provide the thermal insulation properties required by the application. The team put MOLYKOTE® M-77 Paste to the test against other lubricant technologies to see which could best meet the requirements of the electric vehicle battery manufacturer.

Tests showed that while most technologies could meet some of the requirements, only MOLYKOTE® M-77 Silicone-based M-77 Paste, with its MoS2 solid lubricant, was able to reduce noise and meet the insulation requirements.