Technical Materials For Automotive & EV Applications
Automotive applications range from Engine management systems to motor drive controllers and they often need custom-made gaskets and pads in a wide range of technical materials.
Technical Materials used in the automotive and EV industry include Thermal interface pads, environmental Gaskets, RFI shielding pads, Electrical isolation, adhesives, optical films, and vibration damping to name just a few.
Materials Direct work with some of the industry’s renowned brands to bring you the highest quality materials and made exactly the design of pad or gasket to suit your application.
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Commonly Sourced Materials in Electric Vehicle Applications
Electric Vehicle (EV) applications include nearly everything that is not the battery cell itself in a Battery Pack. Materials include the Lithium-Ion cell carriers called UniFoam – an extremely lightweight stiff foam material giving mechanical stiffness and support to the cells themselves.
UniFoam has the advantage of Vibration damping, fire retardancy, and accurate complex shapes can be achieved. A range of dedicated fire retardant materials called Fire protection films are available which snuff out any potential thermal run-aways.
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The Importance of Thermal Interface Materials
Thermal Interface Materials such as Thermal Pad T-Pad and UniGap from Universal Science are supplied to the battery manufacturers as rapid charging and discharging heats the battery sometimes to unacceptable levels.
The TIM will remove the unwanted heat build-up by conduction cooling to cold walls or heat-sinks often utilizing liquid cooling.
The supply of high breakdown voltage and very high thermal conductivity TIM materials from DuPont called Kapton MT+ is a new addition to their Kapton material range. A full PPAP and IMDS can be supplied to support the Automotive industries.
EMI-RFI shielding materials are also required in the casing or housing of the batteries as often a large amount of electrical energy is being handled which can cause unwanted emissions of EMI.
Browse Thermal Interface MaterialsExplore Our Product Range
Thermal Interface Materials
As batteries for electric vehicles become smaller and more performant, they also produce more heat which must be dissipated safely.
Thermal Interface materials allow design engineers to create better designs with more complete thermal management, starting at the device level.
View Product RangeTapes & Adhesives
We supply a wide range of Tapes and Adhesives to the Automotive industry.
They can be used for a wide variety of applications including installation, repair, insulating, reinforcement, bonding, chemical and paint masking, and erosion protection.
View Product RangeSealing Gaskets
We offer a wide range of sealing gasket materials, custom cut to meet a wide range of applications.
Seals and sealing gaskets play an essential role in both motor and electric vehicles.
View Product RangeLED Optical Materials
With automotive and electric vehicle requirements for reliability being exacting, LEDs and components need to meet stringent demands.
We offer a range of materials that help you to enhance the performance and durability of your LED lighting assemblies.
View Product RangeEMI / RFI Shielding
As technology advances, more devices emit Electromagnetic interference. Automotive, EV, and other transportation electronics can be affected by harsh external EMI environments.
A wide range of our technical materials deliver high-quality EMI / RFI shielding to your applications or can be specially coated to do so.
View Product RangeElectrical Insulators
The energy used in electric vehicles is stored in high-voltage batteries that must have perfect electrical insulation to ensure the energy source is not compromised.
Materials Direct offers an extensive range of electrical insulation materials suitable for automotive and EV applications.
View Product RangeTop Selling Materials
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T-Pad 1500™ – A0 – 0.23mm | Universal Science™
SKU: 93449Select options- Electrically insulating and moderate thermal performance properties
- Thermal conductivity = 1.5 W/mK
- Requires mounting pressure via spring, metal clip or clamp
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UniPhase 4000™ COB – 0.25mm | Universal Science™
SKU: 93448Select options- Silicon Free with Low thermal resistance
- Highly reliable and consistent thermal interface for demanding applications such as LED COB
- Non-reinforced film
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T-Pad 1500™ – A1 – 0.23mm | Universal Science™
SKU: 93450Select options- Electrically insulating and moderate thermal performance properties
- Thermal conductivity = 1.5 W/mK
- Requires mounting pressure via spring, metal clip or clamp
- A1 – Adhesive layer on one side
Custom Cut Materials
Materials Direct is approaching this market in a way that is easy to order and specify in Electronics across all industries. Customers who need a certain brand of material that does not appear on the site can apply for us to add this stock to the site’s portfolio based on potential usage.
Instant Quotes – Purchasing Made Easy
The main problem for design engineers and purchasing has been until now the quick supply of parts as often the custom pad is one of the last items to be specified in the design of an Electronic assembly.
Materials Direct not only provides an instant quote but gives the buyer the offer of uploading their custom design for it to be manufactured within 24hours if the material is in stock.
Custom Cutting To Meet Your Specification
Materials Direct Offers A Wide Range of Services
Coating & Laminating
For creating hybrid materials that meet your specification. Improve strength, stability or add additional properties to materials.
Rotary Die Cutting
The ideal cutting method for large quantity orders; delivering fast and accurate conversion of materials into custom parts and shapes.
Die Cutting
An accurate and repeatable method of cutting materials into bespoke shapes and designs. Ideal for high-volume orders.
Laser Cutting
A fast, tool free processing of materials. Highly accurate, cost effective and often the best choice for separating parts from sheet materials
Plotter Cutting
Allows for converting a wide range of materials including foams, rubbers, TIMs, metal-filled fabrics, and more.
CNC Routing
High quality and consistent cutting of hard materials such as wood, composites, aluminum, steel, plastics, glass, and more.
Trusted Supplier in the Automotive Sector
Supplying Technical Materials to World-Famous Brands Within the Automotive & EV Industry
Quality Assured
We Provide Technical Materials from Trusted Brands
The Aerospace industry demands high-quality, high-performing technical materials. Therefore Materials Direct only sources from trusted Brands.
'Having the ability to be supplied with precision cut materials for prototypes within 2 days has been excellent!’
Engineer, Rolls Royce
'We have the need for small to medium batch sizes of various technical materials and Materials Direct have been highly responsive to our urgent needs'
Buyer, Eaton Aerospace
‘We have had to change our designs in the development stages three times. Materials Direct did not charge for these changes as the sizes stayed the same. Excellent!’
Design Engineer, Philips
‘Precision and high quality of parts received have been consistently to a high standard.’
Quality Manager, GEC
Buying online with Materials Direct has proven to be more efficient in time and deliveries, especially when scheduling future orders.
Buyer, Selectronic
Very fast reply, very good order following and delivery in 24H. to recap a very good experience with Materials Direct for a very urgent need. I recommend a lot.
Marien Chevennement
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Frequently Asked Questions
Sectors
Each sector has its own unique requirements and specifications. Materials Direct works to ensure that each sector we supply to, receives the highest quality and best-performing products in relation to their industry and specific need.
Aerospace
The Aerospace industry demands the highest performing, most reliable technical materials to protect their electronic assemblies.
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Automotive / EV
Automotive applications range from Engine management systems to motor drive controllers and custom-made gaskets and pads.
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Industrial
Industrial electronics are robust, have long lifetimes, are cost-sensitive, and suitable for use within difficult environments.
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LED Lighting
Sufficient thermal management in LED lighting can preserve longevity, increase reliability and optimise performance.
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Military
Materials used in military applications need to be of the highest quality and performance, often very rugged to very exacting standards.
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Power
Coupling discreet heat-generating semiconductors to heatsinks remains commonplace in power supply assemblies.
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