The impact of automobile electrification on the application of special rubber in the automotive industry

As we all know, special rubber has excellent oil resistance, corrosion resistance, high temperature resistance, aging resistance and other properties. It has been widely used in the automotive industry. It is often used to make oil hoses, oil seals, various bushings, etc. Commonly used special rubbers include acrylic rubber (ACM), nitrile ruber (NBR), fluoroelastomr (FKM), silicone rubber (VMQ), etc. Since most of the special rubbers were used in fuel vehicles before, as the sales of electric vehicles are increasing and the sales of oil vehicles are decreasing, does it mean that the application of special rubber in automobiles is decreasing?

The impact of automobile electrification on automotive rubber is mainly reflected in the demand structure, dosage and application field of rubber. ‌

 

First, the decline in the production and sales of fuel vehicles has indeed reduced the demand for some traditional rubber parts (such as fuel vehicle oil pipes, timing belts, etc.), but at the same time, the increase in the production and sales of electric vehicles has also increased the demand for special rubber used in electric vehicles, such as:

 

(1) One of the core components of electric vehicles is the battery, and the battery requires a cooling system, and special rubber products are widely used in battery cooling systems;

 

(2) The development of the new energy vehicle industry has put forward higher requirements for the diversified application of connectors, which has led to an increase in demand for high-performance rubbers such as silicone rubber. The sealing function of silicone rubber in the automotive field is particularly important because it can improve the solution of problems such as excessive heat at the connection, substandard sealing, and difficulty in plugging and unplugging, thereby reducing the risks of overload, short circuit, and spontaneous combustion.

 

(3) As air springs are increasingly used in new energy vehicles, the number of special rubbers used in air springs is also growing rapidly;

 

In summary, the impact of automotive electrification on automotive rubber is multifaceted, with both opportunities and challenges. Although the promotion of electric vehicles has reduced the demand for some traditional rubber parts, it has also created new market demand for high-performance rubber and synthetic rubber, especially in the fields of battery cooling systems, shock absorbers, and seals. Therefore, the rubber industry needs to adapt to these changes and develop new products and technologies to meet the needs of the development of electric vehicles.