Fujikura Develops Silicone Rubber Based Auto-Electric Wire

Fujikura announced on Monday the firm developed new automotive electric wire based commodity grade silicone rubber. The firm developed the product with lower cost and lighter weight along with halogen-free advantage while the new products has same level of heat resistance and flexibility as traditional fluorine wire. The firm expects the new product is used for power train of electric vehicle and hybrid vehicle while the firm also eyes other applications including factory automation.

Silicone rubber use is limited due to lower oil resistance, tearability and flame resistance than fluorine wire despite of the advantage in heat resistance and 20-30% lower cost performance. Fujikura succeeded to clear the challenges by converting commodity grade silicone rubber with the original technology while the new material has enough heat resistance and flexibility.

The new material is applied to insulating and sheath material of electric wire, which can be used up to 180 degrees centigrade, in order to use to high temperature parts around engine and power train motor. The material can be used under minus 40-60 degrees centigrade. The material enables efficient wiring in narrow space in compact electric and hybrid vehicles.

The silicone rubber material can reduce the insulating weight by more than 10% compared with fluorine wire. The firm is confident the weight could be reduced by around 30% through combination with the original copper clad aluminium wire. The new material also can improve the safety in flame resistance due to the halogen-free nature.

The firm already shipped the sample as harness for electric and hybrid vehicles. The firm tries to improve the productivity and the property in order to get order for other applications than automobile.