Vistalon for Automotive Part Application

Vistalon EPDM (Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer) is widely used in the automotive industry due to its excellent resistance to heat, ozone, UV radiation, and weathering. These properties make it ideal for various automotive parts that are exposed to harsh environmental conditions, mechanical stress, and a wide range of temperatures. Below are some common automotive applications for Vistalon EPDM and why it’s a preferred material for these components.

Key Automotive Applications of Vistalon EPDM:

1. Weatherstripping and Seals

• Application: EPDM is commonly used for weatherstripping around car doors, windows, sunroofs, trunks, and windshields. These seals help prevent water, air, and dust from entering the vehicle cabin, while also providing noise reduction and insulation.
• Why Vistalon?: Vistalon EPDM provides excellent resistance to ozone, UV rays, and extreme weather conditions, ensuring the seals remain flexible and functional for the life of the vehicle. Its low-temperature flexibility and ability to maintain elasticity in cold and hot climates make it ideal for this use.

2. Automotive Hoses

• Application: EPDM is used in coolant hoses, heater hoses, and air intake hoses, where temperature and pressure fluctuations are common.
• Why Vistalon?: Vistalon’s ability to withstand high temperatures (up to 150°C) and resistance to coolant fluids, water, and steam makes it suitable for long-term use in engine compartment hoses. Its flexibility helps in the easy assembly and installation of hoses, and it resists cracking, swelling, and degradation from contact with fluids.

3. Belts and Gaskets

• Application: Vistalon EPDM is used in manufacturing various gaskets and O-rings for under-the-hood applications, such as valve cover gaskets, oil pan gaskets, and engine seals.
• Why Vistalon?: Vistalon offers excellent sealing properties and is resistant to oil, steam, and other chemicals encountered in automotive environments. It also retains elasticity and sealing capabilities over time, even when exposed to high temperatures and chemicals under the hood.

4. Vibration Dampeners and Engine Mounts

• Application: EPDM is used in automotive vibration dampening components, such as engine mounts, suspension bushings, and exhaust system hangers, which reduce vibrations and noise.
• Why Vistalon?: Vistalon EPDM’s elasticity and damping properties help absorb and reduce vibrations, making it ideal for components that need to mitigate noise, harshness, and vibrations (NVH). Its durability also ensures that the parts can withstand continuous mechanical stress and exposure to engine fluids without breaking down.

5. Brake and Fuel Systems

• Application: In certain applications, EPDM is used in components like brake seals, gaskets, and fuel system O-rings.
• Why Vistalon?: Vistalon EPDM is compatible with brake fluids (glycol-based) and resists swelling, cracking, and chemical degradation. It is often selected for brake systems due to its chemical resistance, flexibility, and thermal stability.

6. Window and Door Seals

• Application: EPDM seals and gaskets are used around car windows and doors to prevent moisture and noise from entering the vehicle interior.
• Why Vistalon?: Vistalon EPDM provides superior resistance to outdoor elements, ensuring that seals around windows and doors do not degrade from sun exposure, cold weather, or mechanical movement. Its low compression set ensures long-lasting sealing performance.

7. Radiator Seals and Cooling System Components

• Application: Radiator hoses and other components in a vehicle’s cooling system require materials that can handle temperature extremes and contact with antifreeze and other fluids.
• Why Vistalon?: Vistalon EPDM’s excellent resistance to glycol-based coolants and water, along with its heat resistance, make it an ideal choice for cooling system seals and hoses.

8. Wiper Blades

• Application: EPDM is used in wiper blades due to its weather resistance and flexibility, ensuring long-lasting performance even after prolonged exposure to UV rays and rain.
• Why Vistalon?: Vistalon EPDM’s superior UV and ozone resistance prevents the rubber from cracking or hardening over time, ensuring the wiper blades maintain their effectiveness in harsh weather conditions.

Why Vistalon EPDM is Ideal for Automotive Applications:

1. Heat Resistance: Vistalon EPDM can withstand high temperatures, making it suitable for under-the-hood applications and parts exposed to engine heat.
2. Ozone and UV Resistance: Its ability to resist degradation from sunlight, ozone, and outdoor weather conditions ensures that automotive seals, hoses, and other parts last longer without cracking or becoming brittle.
3. Chemical Resistance: Vistalon is resistant to chemicals commonly found in automotive environments, such as oils, coolants, and brake fluids, ensuring parts remain functional even after exposure to harsh chemicals.
4. Low-Temperature Flexibility: Vistalon remains flexible and retains its properties at low temperatures, making it suitable for automotive parts that need to perform in cold weather.
5. Long-Term Durability: EPDM’s ability to maintain its physical properties over extended periods means that automotive parts made with Vistalon EPDM require less frequent replacement, reducing maintenance costs and improving vehicle reliability.

Customization and Processing:

Vistalon EPDM grades are customizable for specific automotive applications, depending on the required properties such as hardness, elasticity, and processing characteristics. It can be:

• Extruded into profiles for weatherstripping and seals.
• Molded into complex shapes for gaskets and dampeners.
• Blended with other materials for enhanced properties like improved strength or better flexibility.

Vistalon also allows for easy coloring, which is important in aesthetic automotive applications like seals that must match the car’s interior or exterior color schemes.

Specific Vistalon Grades for Automotive Applications:

• Vistalon 3666: A high ethylene-content EPDM designed for automotive weatherstripping applications, offering excellent mechanical properties and durability.
• Vistalon 8800: A low-viscosity EPDM with enhanced processing characteristics for use in extrusion applications such as hoses and seals.
• Vistalon 2504: A versatile grade used in automotive seals, hoses, and vibration dampeners due to its excellent resistance to aging, weathering, and chemicals.

Conclusion:

Vistalon EPDM is a highly versatile and durable material that is well-suited for a wide range of automotive applications. Its resistance to heat, ozone, chemicals, and weathering, combined with its flexibility and mechanical strength, make it a preferred choice for seals, hoses, gaskets, and vibration-damping components. Vistalon’s ability to maintain performance over long periods also ensures that automotive parts remain functional and reliable, contributing to vehicle safety and durability.