Applications for the rubber include seals for coolants, steam, synthetic hydraulic fluids, brake fluids and aerospace hydraulic fluids (phosphate esters). The newly developed material is capable of withstanding temperatures up to 150 C, and the material has outstanding compressive stress force retention.

In addition to these properties, the sugarcane base allows the material to be 45 percent bio-renewable, which ultimately reduces the manufacturing carbon footprint.

We had been working with polymer suppliers for ways to reduce our carbon footprint but the polymer offerings lacked the specific characteristics we needed for our advanced manufacturing processes. So we initiated a project to research the area, and we were able to develop a material that can be used in our next generation injection molding process.

—Joe Walker, global director, Advanced Materials Development

Freudenberg-NOK has focused much of their next generation manufacturing technology on a single-cavity, net-shape injection molding process which has resulted in reduced waste and energy demand and overall improved manufacturing control, yielding improved quality.

Freudenberg-NOK Sealing Technologies is the Americas joint venture between Freudenberg and Co. in Germany and NOK Corp. in Japan. Freudenberg-NOK is a leading producer of advanced sealing technologies for a variety of markets including: aerospace; agriculture; appliance; automotive; construction; diesel engine; energy; food and beverage; heavy industry; and pharmaceutical.