Permanent magnet motors have been around for a very long time. Nevertheless, the technology and chemistry involved in their production have developed tremendously. This is due to a wide range of market factors, including:

• Product miniaturization
• More complex and power-efficient designs
• Consumer demand for longer working life and warranties
• Growth and evolution within the electric vehicle (EV) industry

In this article, we will discuss the testing that is relevant to assuring reliability and performance within EV permanent magnet motors. This is a particularly demanding application due in large part to:

• Required product lifespans/warranty of 10+ years
• Wide operating temperature range of -40 to as much as 200 C (Thermal Management)
• Chemical resistance to automotive fluids often required
• Highly reliable/zero defect or failure environment for safety

Related Blog: High Performance Sealing with Gel Ropes 

Magnet Bonding Adhesive Options

The minimization of mechanical fasteners and protective housings is critical in EV motors due to weight considerations as well as the speed of assembly factors. Polymeric protectants and adhesives are ideal in these circumstances.

A few of the options currently available include:

• Cyanoacrylate adhesives
  • Fast curing, no heat required, can be brittle

• Epoxy adhesives (including 1 and 2-part epoxies)
  • Improved impact resistance, mechanical shock resistance, and excellent chemical resistance

• Structural acrylic adhesives
  • Bonds well to diverse substrates, can struggle with chemical resistance

EV Motor Environmental Conditions/Testing

As is common with many automotive components, there is a need for electronics including EV motors to withstand demanding environmental conditions over extended periods of a decade or more for warranty purposes. Test conditions can include:

• Temperature range of -40C to 160C or more
• Resistance to transmission fluids
• Resistance to lubricating oils
• Resistance to water and salt spray exposure
• High bond strength to 8000 rpm

High-temperature retention of bonding properties is particularly important in EV magnet bonding. Typical real-world type testing involves many variations on “push test” experimentation where magnets are pushed out of their mounts at various temperatures. This testing is of course conducted to assure permanent magnets remain in their proper positions during extreme operating conditions. The practical measurement is in fact a variation on basic lap shear-type testing.

Resin Designs 2E25, a two-component polyamide-modified epoxy, has recently undergone extensive testing for lap shear resistance at various temperatures. The results are sown in the graph below. While shear resistance drops off as temperatures rise, as expected, the modifications to the epoxy backbone result in an asymptotic drop-off that levels off above numbers expected to result in failures.

                                                            Temperature

2E25 Epoxy Adhesive

2E25 is a high-performance, two-component epoxy designed specifically to withstand the conditions common to EV motor assembly. The material has a relatively long open time with as fast a cure as possible with exposure to elevated temperatures.

As a supplier of electronics protection polymers and coatings, Chase Corporation and our employees can help you with an unbiased approach to evaluating your application and process. We’ll show you how to maximize efficiency, minimize cost, and improve product reliability. Our outstanding manufacturing and technical support groups can provide your organization with reliable global supply, unmatched quality, and superior technical support.

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