Freudenberg has acquired the activities of the startup FRICTins GmbH based Wolnzach, Germany – including FRICTins’ innovative technology to increase the friction coefficient. This allows lightweight and more compact component designs as well as the transmission of up to five times higher torque and shear forces. These features are of critical relevance in applications within E-mobility and its increasing performance requirements regarding the connection of parts.

“In the future, Freudenberg will offer the global automotive industry a cost-efficient, hard-particle coated nonwoven solution – ideally suited for the realization of new powertrain designs and lightweight concepts,” states Frank Heislitz, CEO of Freudenberg Performance Materials.

This technology combines a unique hard-particle coating process with a special nonwoven from Freudenberg. It is utilized by automotive manufacturers and suppliers in engine, chassis and powertrain applications and generates an increase of the friction coefficient up to a factor of eight. This allows for a significant improvement in the performance of screw joints and press fits. By increasing the friction coefficient in such a way, many new and innovative material combinations become possible.

Currently, the products are manufactured in pilot production scale in a facility near Munich, Germany. Freudenberg has acquired all assets and will set up an industrial scale production within the next few months.

The patent pending solution is using a multi-step-process to coat hard particles in various dimensions onto the surface of a special nonwoven. When applied in the friction joint, the hard particles penetrate into both parts of the joining components and create a micro interlock. Compared to existing technologies on the market, FRICTins’ technology offers a greater flexibility in the design process, e.g. due to lower material thickness, while also providing a much higher friction coefficient. By using 100% inert materials, this new technology cannot cause any corrosion between the joining parts.

The FRICTins technology has already won two awards: the German Innovation Award from the German Design Council in 2018 as well as the Materialica Design and Technology Award in 2017.