Weinheim, Germany, October 14, 2019. The Freudenberg global technology group has acquired the activities of the startup FRICTins GmbH from Wolnzach, Germany – including FRICTins’ innovative technology to increase the friction coefficient. This allows light-weight and more compact component designs as well as the transmission of up to 5-times higher torque and shear forces. These features are of critical relevance in e-mobility applications and increasing performance requirements for part connections.
“In the future, Freudenberg will offer the global automotive industry a cost-efficient, hard particle coated nonwoven solution – ideally suited for the realization of new powertrain designs and lightweight concepts”, stated Dr. Frank Heislitz, CEO of Freudenberg Performance Materials.
This technology combines a unique hard particle coating process with a special nonwoven from Freudenberg. It is utilized by automotive manufacturers and suppliers in engine, chassis and powertrain applications. It can increase the friction coefficient up to a factor of 8. This allows for a significant improvement in the performance of screw joints and press fits. Increasing the friction coefficient here enables many new and innovative material combinations.
Currently, the products are manufactured on a pilot production scale in a facility near Munich (Wolnzach). Freudenberg has acquired all the assets and will set up industrial scale production within the next few months.
Background
The patent-pending solution uses a multi-step-process to coat hard particles of various dimensions onto the surface of a special nonwoven. When used in a friction joint, the hard particles penetrate into both parts of the joining components and create a micro interlock. Compared to existing technologies on the market, FRICTins’ technology offers greater flexibility in the design process, thanks to lower material thickness, while also providing a much higher friction coefficient. By using 100% inert materials, this new technology does not cause any corrosion between the joining parts.
The FRICTins technology has already won two awards:
The German Innovation Award from the German Design Council in 2018.
The Materialica Design and Technology Award in 2017.