Freudenberg Sealing Technologies is working on enhancing the safety of modern lithium-ion batteries, thereby advancing the future of electromobility.
Freudenberg
WeinhDrBieringer_10_12_2024 Fritz Kopetzky WNL 10.12.2024 Weinheim Bau 120 Preisverleihung Meyer Garlow Preis an das Team von Dr. Ruth Bieringer FST Freudenberg
This commitment was honoured with an industry award. Dr. Ruth Bieringer, vice president material technology at Freudenberg Sealing Technologies, received the Meyer-Galow Prize for Industrial Chemistry 2024 for two innovations – the development of high-temperature-resistant plastics and flame protection barriers.
Bieringer, who has a doctorate in chemistry and oversees material development at the technology company, accepted the €10,000 award on December 10, 2024. Representatives of Freudenberg Sealing Technologies, the German Chemical Society (GDCh), the society’s founder Professor Dr. Erhard Meyer-Galow and others paid tribute to Dr. Bieringer’s creativity and innovative talent.
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 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 moulding 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 honoured 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 fibres 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 moulding or extrusion, the materials can be processed into mats, profiles or complex 3D geometries.
The commercialisation of both material families is in full swing. The company is also testing potential further developments for applications beyond electromobility.