Ascend Performance Materials has unveiled two materials for electric vehicles that improve safety and passenger comfort. The company’s Starflam X-Protect and Vydyne AVS tackle two unique challenges automakers face when developing their EV platforms. Ascend, which is headquartered in the US, is the world’s largest fully integrated producer of nylon 66 resin.

Starflam X-Protect is an industry-leading flame-retardant nylon 66 that withstands exposure to 1,100°C direct flame for 15 minutes, surpassing standard flame-retardant materials and aluminium tested in accordance with SAE AS5127 (a test originally designed for aerospace applications), the company said in a press release.

Ascend’s team of e-mobility application development engineers and polymer scientists created a novel solution to dampen noise, vibration and harshness in EVs, which produce vibrations at ten times the frequency of internal combustion engine vehicles. Vydyne AVS is a new engineered material effective at damping high-frequency vibrations from noise sources like motors and compressors, which translates into an 80 per cent reduction in cabin sound pressure.

One of the applications where Vydyne AVS is being used is in the Cadillac LYRIQ. The LYRIQ sports an electric AC compressor mounting bracket made of Vydyne AVS, which effectively helps damp that component's vibrations at the source while also providing structural support.

“Safety remains one of the primary concerns for people considering an EV. Despite being relatively rare, critical battery failure and thermal runaway can occur and X-Protect was designed to keep people safe even in extreme circumstances,” Ian van Duijvenboode, Ascend’s senior director for e-mobility, said.

“Vydyne AVS is the result of years of engineering development combined with our unique ability to tailor the polymerisation process to target specific attributes. It’s an example of our commitment to help customers lead in innovation and tackle the unique challenges driven by this transformation to electrification,” Steve Manning, Ascend’s senior director for engineered materials, said.