Hutchinson develops elastomer for sealing EV heat pumps

Paris – Hutchinson SA has developed an elastomer compound specially designed to meet the sealing requirements of electric-vehicle heat pumps using R744 – refrigerant grade CO2.

Formulated specially for German car maker VW, the compound is capable of withstanding the operating constraints of R744, said the French rubber components supplier.

The 'natural' refrigerant, it stated, “holds plenty of promise” for the thermal management of electric and hybrid vehicles: helping to extend range by using less energy.

However, R744 requires all circuit components to be adapted, especially the sealing parts, according to Hutchinson's 23 May release.

Developed “in close collaboration with VW and a major OEM in thermal management systems”, the sealing material has been optimised to meet such requirements.

The elastomer has a hardness rating of 80 Shore A, so that it can withstand high-pressure applications up to 130bar, thereby improving system safety.

It also has greater thermal performance, with a temperature range from -40°C to +165°C, in-line with the demands on heat pumps running on R744.

Hutchinson added that the material is resistant to rapid gas decompression (RGD) and compliant with the Norsok M-710 standard – exhibiting no defects after exposure.