SEBS Sealing Plug Structure for 600°C Gas-Tight Hole Closure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sealing plugs for motor vehicles, particularly those used in electric vehicles, fail to maintain a gas-tight seal at high temperatures, risking fire hazards and failing to meet new safety regulations, and require high assembly forces due to material shrinkage and cracking.
Innovation Solution
A sealing plug made from a thermoplastic adhesive material based on styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene (SEBS) that carbonates at up to 600°C, maintaining dimensional stability and elasticity, with embedded fibers for enhanced strength, and a design featuring stiffening ribs and a sealing lip for secure attachment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional rubber-elastic sealing plugs are used in electric vehicles, then assembly is straightforward, but they fail to maintain gas-tight seal at high temperatures up to 600°C
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter from traditional rubber-elastic materials to thermoplastic adhesive material based on SEBS, which fundamentally alters the temperature resistance characteristics. This material maintains its sealing properties at temperatures up to 600°C by carbonating rather than melting, resolving the contradiction between sealing reliability and temperature resistance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a composite material system consisting of thermoplastic adhesive material based on SEBS with embedded fibers (glass fibers, carbon fibers, or basalt fibers). This composite structure combines the adhesive properties of SEBS with the high-temperature strength of embedded fibers, achieving both sealing reliability and temperature resistance up to 600°C.
2Ease of operation
If conventional sealing plugs are used, then manufacturing is simple, but they require high assembly forces due to material shrinkage and cracking at high temperatures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter from conventional plastics to thermoplastic adhesive material based on SEBS, which has different thermal behavior. This material carbonates at high temperatures instead of shrinking and cracking, eliminating the need for high assembly forces and enabling easy assembly while maintaining sealing integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a single-component injection molding process that creates a disposable-like sealing plug with integrated sealing and anchoring features. The plug is designed to be inserted and secured in one operation without requiring complex assembly steps or high forces, simplifying the assembly process.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The plug ensures a reliable, gas-tight seal at high temperatures, adhering to components and preventing detachment, even at temperatures up to 600°C, while maintaining structural integrity and assembly ease.
Implementation Method 1
The sealing plug is formed at least in regions from a thermoplastic adhesive material based on styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene (SEBS) such that the material can be carbonate from a temperature of at least 250° C. or 300° C. to a maximum of 350° C. or 400° C. or 450° C. or 500° C. or 550° C. or 600° C.
Implementation Method 2
the sealing plug is formed at least in regions from a thermoplastic adhesive material based on styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene (SEBS) such that the material can be carbonate from a temperature of at least 250° C. or 300° C. to a maximum of 350° C. or 400° C. or 450° C. or 500° C. or 550° C. or 600° C., such that the sealing plug remains dimensionally stable
Data Source
AI summary
A sealing plug is provided for closing holes in objects, in particular for closing holes in motor vehicles or in components of motor vehicles. The sealing plug includes a base wall and at least one first circumferential side wall connected thereto, wherein the sealing plug is formed at least in regions from a thermoplastic adhesive material based on styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene (SEBS) such that the material is carbonated at a temperature of up to 600° C. such that the sealing plug remains dimensionally stable and elastic.