Project description:

Hybrid and pure electric vehicles as well as vehicles powered by fuel cells place new demands on the materials used, particularly with regard to the cooling lines in the engine compartment. Lightweight construction is a must to improve autonomy and reduce electricity consumption. Even more critical is thermal management, in which cooling media have to work in a very narrow temperature window in order to optimize the performance and service life of the electrical components, especially the battery.
Conventional rubber hoses do not meet the weight requirements or the thermal insulation requirements. On the other hand, thermoplastics, even if they are lighter and recyclable, do not meet the insulation requirements for the relevant areas of application. In both cases, additional sheathing is necessary to maintain the required insulation values. These coatings increase the thickness and cost of the lines.
The aim of the GRIMEV project is to develop a new two-layer structure that combines a recyclable material in the inner layer and a foamed insulating material in the outer layer. The recyclable material is based on a thermoplastic vulcanizate (TPE-V) and the insulation material on a polymer with a lower density. Both are made during the coextrusion process and then thermoformed.


Sponsor: The European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT)

Funding program: Business Unit „EIT RawMaterials“

Term: January 1st, 2018 to March 31st, 2020