Automotive
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Fluoropolymers and other engineered plastics, such as PEEK (polyether ether ketone), are quickly becoming the materials of choice in global automotive applications. These materials are able to maintain exceptional physical properties in extreme conditions such as elevated temperatures and aggressive chemical environments. Engineered polymers are also cost-effective and offer weight savings over other materials such as metal.
As automotive regulatory requirements become more demanding, the use of performance polymers in designs will continue to increase. Zeus is prepared to support automotive innovation by partnering with our customers to determine optimal materials and develop custom parts for their applications. Our polymer solutions can be found worldwide in applications where materials are exposed to critical environments on a broad range of automobile platforms.
Since 1966, Zeus has continually focused on producing the highest quality products and polymer solutions to meet or exceed industry standards. We are committed to continuous improvement to ensure consistent quality and alignment of our products with the demands of the automotive industry.
To learn more about our automotive or other products, contact our team or call toll-free in the US 1-800-526-3842 or +1-803-268-9500 internationally today.
- APPLICATIONS
Composite Manufacturing Aids – We offer a variety of approved contact resins for use in composite manufacturing. Our heat shrinks provide seamless coverings for mandrels and bladders and replace tapes and films, saving both time and money.
Electric Motor Insulations – Our PEEK coatings and heat shrink provide outstanding dielectric properties, high thermal endurance, and extreme abrasion resistance for enhanced motor performance. Additional wire coatings in PTFE, PFA, ETFE, or FEP are also available.
Fluid Transfer – Meeting your fuel supply, power steering, and flexible brake line needs, our high-performance tubing products are chemically inert to typical automotive fluids such as fuels, automatic transmission, power steering, and brake fluids. Dual-layered or co-extruded tubing is also available for custom applications. Zeus’ drawn fiber for over-braiding increases abrasion resistance; this fiber is also chemically inert to automotive fluids. Our smooth-bore tubing can be customized to provide complex geometries that meet your specific needs.
Sensors / Fiber Optics – Becoming ever more important for communications and safety, fiber optics have become a focal point in today’s automotive world. Our Dual-Shrink™ heat shrink, convoluted, engineered surface tubing, and spiral cut products deliver critical insulating properties against vibration, noise, wet and corrosive environments, and extreme heat to protect sensors, fiber optics, and wiring communicating back to the powertrain control module (PCM).
Wire Harnessing – Zeus provides an array of products for harnessing and insulating wires, cables, hoses, and other unwieldy bundles. Our products provide protection from chafing, heat, corrosion, shock, and moisture.
- PRODUCTS
Convoluted Tubing – Commonly referred to as flexible conduit, this product can be used to house multiple wires to prevent chafing. Our convoluted tubing can be drilled with holes, marked with part numbers, or slit to fit over wires easily. This tubing is chemically resistant and able to maintain its mechanical properties even at extreme temperatures.
Customized Extrusion – We routinely provide custom profiles and multi-lumen extrusions in a variety of resins. We can create spline shapes commonly used to center wiring, reduce vibration impact, and allow air and moisture passage. Specialized shapes can provide individual isolation of wires in multiple lumens. Spiral wrap and convoluted tubing provide stability and abrasion resistance for wire harnessing applications.
Drawn Fiber – Drawn fiber is an excellent braiding option for wire harnesses that increases chafe resistance, minimizes weight, and provides mechanical reinforcement. Tensile strength, elongation, and shrinkage can be customized to meet your specifications.
Dual-Shrink™ – Dual Shrink™ provides a tight and moisture-proof encapsulation over wires, connectors, sensors, terminals, splices, and many other components.
Heat Shrink Tubing – Our shrink-to-fit products provide a protective covering for items subjected to extremes of heat, corrosion, shock, moisture, and other critical conditions. Ratios of up to 4:1, custom sizes and materials, and AS23053/11 & 12 certifications are available.
PEEK Insulated Wire – Also referred to as magnet wire, this product has excellent dielectric strength and a continuous service temperature up to 500 °F (260 °C). Used in electric motors, generators, transformers, solenoids, and other electromechanical equipment, this product offers outstanding abrasion resistance and the capability to tolerate moisture.
Spiral Cut Tubing – Cut in a spiral manner to form an expandable tube, this product provides a highly flexible housing over wires, cables, hoses, and critical bundles. Custom spacing between the spirals allows for individual lead wires and fibers that can be “broken out” at any point along the tubing. This type of tubing is ideal for wire harnessing or insulating parts that require frequent changing out or servicing.
- MATERIALS
ECTFE – Also known as Halar®, this tubing material is popular for protecting wires and cables in automotive and aerospace applications with a broad operating temperature. ECTFE provides outstanding durability, ultra-low permeability, is chemically resistant, and offers good performance at a competitive price.
ETFE – A copolymer of ethylene and tetrafluoroethylene, this material affords excellent resistance to impact, abrasion, and stress cracking. ETFE possesses outstanding toughness, stiffness, and durability, all while being chemically inert. The material can be extruded in multiple forms, including flexible convoluted tubing and heat shrink.
PE – High-density polyethylene (HDPE) provides a high strength-to-density ratio and is a good option for corrosion-resistant piping, fuel tanks, electrical boxes, and other automotive needs. Low-density polyethylene (LDPE) possesses excellent impact strength at low temperatures and thus resists breaking; it is also highly flexible.
Nylon – Zeus extrudes nylon tubing and can assist in the selection of the specific grade of nylon best suited for your application. Our engineered nylon is available in a wide range of grades suited for many custom applications, including Nylon 6/6 (Zytel® 42A and ST801), Nylon 11 (Rilsan® B), Nylon 12 (Grilamid® L25, Rilsan® A, Vestamid® L2140, Grilamid® TR55 and TR55LX), Pebax® (PEBA; Pebax® 7233, 7033, 6333, 5533, 4033, 3533), and others.
PEEK – This high-performance engineered polymer has excellent endurance to heat and one of the highest strength-to-weight ratios of any thermoplastic. This material can be used as an alternative to materials such as aluminum, steel, glass, and even other polymers. PEEK tubing is lightweight and able to withstand operating temperatures of 500 ºF (260 ºC). This tubing tolerates high burst pressures, is thermoformable, resistant to wear and impact, and possesses exceptional torsion stability.
PFA – This fluoropolymer is known for its ability to maintain its mechanical integrity in extreme temperatures, even when exposed to caustic chemicals. PFA can withstand temperature environments of up to 500 ºF (260 ºC) and can also be extruded in convoluted tubing forms that provide a highly flexible conduit. PFA exhibits excellent lubricity, clarity, and flexibility. PFA is also available in high purity versions that are SEMI F-57 certified.
PTFE – The unique properties of this material have made it the gold standard for industries requiring top-flight performance in lubricity, high temperature use, chemical resistance, and precision tolerances. PTFE has a working temperature of up to 500 °F (260 °C) and has the lowest coefficient of friction of any polymer; it is also chemically resistant to all common solvents, including acids and bases.
PVDF – This polymer delivers high performance at a competitive cost. Also known as Kynar®, PVDF is characterized by low permeability as well as strong abrasion and chemical resistance. This tubing possesses a host of properties that make it useful in a variety of applications that need flexibility without sacrificing performance.