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Due to modern trends in the automotive industry, such as vehicle electrification, light-weighting, reduced NVH (Noise, Vibration and Harshness) packaging space, etc., it is desirable to have a low profile and light-weight acoustic material with multi-functionality. If one single layer of a thin acoustic material can provide comparable absorption and transmission loss to a multilayer treatment, it will benefit the industry by saving weight, packaging space and system cost. Acoustic absorption and sound transmission loss performance of a new dissipative material at reduced weight and thickness is introduced in this paper. The acoustic performance of the material was evaluated by using random incidence absorption and transmission loss as well as in-vehicle experiment. Further potential applications for this material have been identified using the Statistical Energy Analysis (SEA) method with panel leakage considered.

A ceramic composite filter has been developed which uses depth filtration for particle capture. The advantages of composite fiber-based filtration are presented as part of an overview of filtration mechanisms. Next, base media and material issues are discussed along with materials development. Once a stable base media formulation was determined, robust design and statistical tolerancing methods were applied as part of a design for six sigma (DFSS) methodology to determine the optimal filter cell geometry. These methods were also used to assess the impact various component tolerances had on overall filter pressure drop and their potential impact to manufacturing. Next, the composite filter initial performance was compared to commercially available filters as part of a benchmarking study. Filter performance with respect to soot capacity, filtration efficiency, pressure drop, weight, catalyzation, and durability was evaluated.

Flip Chip packaging has found limited use for a technology that was introduced decades ago. Its application widened with the use of underfill, a necessary constituent to minimizing CTE mismatch between the component and substrate. Its reliability has been established on laminate substrates for automotive applications, an important development in light of the continuous increase in vehicle electronic content and function. Unfortunately, the assembly process incorporating underfill is cumbersome and batch-like. Also, the adhesive strength of the underfill depends critically on the cleanliness of the die after reflow, necessitating costly cleaning equipment and complex process monitoring protocols. Hence, the process of manufacturing is not SMT-friendly. A new technology, Wafer Applied Underfill (WAU), addresses the shortcomings of the traditional underfill process.

This paper discusses a new technology for control of solar heat gain in automobiles. Described will be a non-metallic, all-polymeric film, which reflects solar infrared, has high visible light transmission, and an appearance that is clear and colorless. The film is designed to be used in combination with tinted glass, as a component in an overall glazing design. Measured solar control levels are shown to be competitive with metallised film technologies. Prototype windshields and body glass units have been successfully made in a standard autoclave cycle. Constructions were made by using the film as the center component in a five layer glass/pvb/film/pvb/glass laminate. The results of durability, performance, and specification tests are encouraging and will be discussed.

A typical automotive catalytic converter is constructed with a ceramic substrate and a steel shell. Due to a mismatch in coefficients of thermal expansion, the steel shell will expand away from the ceramic substrate at high temperatures. The gap between the substrate and shell is usually filled with a fiber composite material referred to as “mat.” Mat materials are compressed during assembly and must maintain an adequate pressure around the substrate under extreme temperature conditions. The container deformation measurement procedure is used to determine catalytic converter shell expansion during and after a period of hot catalytic converter operation. This procedure is useful in determining the potential physical durability of a catalytic converter system, and involves measuring converter shell expansion as a function of inlet temperature. A post-test dimensional measurement is used to determine permanent container deformation.