Dow sets up dedicated labs for automotive collaboration

Midland, Michigan – Dow is launching a series of dedicated ‘studios’ to support the development of new technologies within the automotive industry.

The first two of MobilityScience studios, located in Midland, Michigan and Lake Jackson, Texas, will offer “a collaborative workspace” and testing capabilities focused on acoustic and powertrain solutions for automotive applications, Dow said in a recent statement. 

The labs enable Dow to create tailor-made noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH) and sealing, powertrain, and fluid transfer system solutions "unique to any specifications", the company announced 5 Aug.

“Our MobilityScience platform was created to improve our service, accelerate innovation, reduce complexity, and better connect customers with our products and capabilities,” said Tim Boven, MobilityScience growth director. 

The Midland studio, dedicated to acoustics, offers automotive OEMs and tiers a portfolio of polyurethane foams, elastomers, resins, coatings materials and speciality chemicals. 

In addition, they can work alongside Dow experts who bridge the gap between acoustics and materials.

According to Dow, the studio will also enable the development of customised solutions and offers testing capabilities such as damping analysis with oberst beam testing and sound-proof simulation in hemi-anechoic chamber.

“We are using our vast market understanding and technical know-how to fine-tune polyurethane cells at the molecular level and improve acoustic performance of our materials,” said Dr Esther Quintanilla, global mobility market leader at Dow Polyurethanes. 

Additionally, Dow said it has engineered 'Acoustimize methodology' which will be used in the studio.

The technology, it said, provides a “holistic evaluation of targeted cavity fill applications to generate quantitative data to understand the acoustic performance of polyurethane materials.” 

Dow’s MobilityScience studio in Lake Jackson offers capabilities aimed at the development and commercialisation of sealing, powertrain, and fluid transfer system components such as weatherstrips, belts and hoses.

“The studio offers a host of comprehensive capabilities for fast-tracking development of innovative EPDM solutions for the transportation industry,” said Robert Guerrieri, North America marketing manager, transportation at Dow Packaging and Specialty Plastics. 

In particular, the studio will focus on creating the “next generation” of Dow’s Nordel EPDM products, which are claimed to be “the widest range of ethylene content available to the industry.” 

Customers will have access to a variety of resources to both advance customisation of new products and verify end-use performance.

These include pilot scale formulation creation, mixing, extrusion and curing as well as the evaluation and troubleshooting of mixing, milling/calendering, and extrusion-related processing issues.

The lab will also offer onsite analytical testing and validation of physical property performance in uncured and cured compounds as well as finished prototypes.