How Rubber Weather Seals Have Changed in Vehicles Over the Years
Posted on: 17 December 2020
Custom manufactured rubber products can be found in everything from the homes across the country to the vehicles that everyone drives. In fact, without certain rubber parts used in the automotive industry, the common car would be much less enjoyable to spend time in while you're on the road. Weather seals can be found in multiple points around the modern vehicle; around the doors, surrounding the windows, and even protecting the engine and vulnerable undercarriage components.
As someone in the automotive industry who may eventually need custom-made weather seals from a custom rubber parts manufacturer, it can be helpful to take a look at how these parts have changed over the years.
1. Rubber automotive seals are much more flexible.
If you take a look at a classic car made several decades, one of the most noteworthy things you will see about the rubber seals is just how rigid they are. If you take a closer look at the weather seals on a modern vehicle, you will see seals that have a softer consistency.
Initially, the seals used to protect the doors, windows, and other points on the vehicle were made with standard rubber. Today, modern rubber parts manufacturers utilize a more flexible blend of things like thermoplastic elastomer plastics and standard rubber. This makes a much more flexible, forgiving rubber that does a much better job of providing adequate protection around openings.
2. Rubber automotive seals are better designed to handle fluctuations in temperature.
Because modern-day automotive weatherstripping and seals are now made with more modern formulations, the rubber parts are much more resilient to changes in temperature. A vehicle is exposed to variant temperatures all the time due to the environment and the vehicle itself.
Most people live in areas where the temperatures fluctuate from season to season. However, even vehicles in stable climates can experience internal temperature fluctuations due to exposure to direct sunlight. The fact that the seals in a car are created with thermoplastic elastomers and thermoplastic polymer blends, mean the rubber parts are much less likely to break down or get rigid when in the freezing cold or excessive heat.
3. Work with a Custom Rubber Parts Manufacturer for Quality Parts
Whether you are in the field of automotive customization and rebuilds or auto manufacturing, a custom rubber parts supplier is a vital thing. Reach out to a company in your area that provides custom manufactured rubber products.
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