Research on the application of tris(dimethylaminopropyl)hexahydrotriazine in automotive NVH sound insulation parts
Preface: Confrontation with noise
In modern urban life, we are always surrounded by all kinds of noises – the roar in the subway car, the buzzing of the air conditioner compressor in the office, and even the noise from the barbecue stall downstairs late at night. However, when we get into the “mobile castle” of the car, we hope to gain a peaceful world. This is exactly the significance of automotive NVH (Noise, Vibration and Harshness) technology.
Imagine a scene where you drive your car through a bustling city, and you can clearly hear the children’s songs hummed by the children in the back row while driving at high speed; or during a long trip, the partner on the passenger’s passenger can take a quiet nap without being disturbed by the outside world. All of this cannot be separated from the silent protection of NVH sound insulation. In this battle with noise, tris(dimethylaminopropyl)hexahydrotriazine (hereinafter referred to as TMTA) is playing an increasingly important role.
As a multifunctional chemical reagent, TMTA has shown unique advantages in the field of automotive NVH materials in recent years. It can not only effectively improve the damping performance of sound insulation materials, but also improve the durability and stability of the materials. Especially in the SAE J1634 vibration attenuation test, the application effect of TMTA has been fully verified. Through this international standard testing method, we can scientifically evaluate the performance of TMTA modified materials under actual operating conditions and provide reliable data support for automobile manufacturers.
This article will start from the basic characteristics of TMTA and deeply explore its application principles and advantages in automotive NVH sound insulation, and combine specific experimental data to comprehensively analyze its excellent performance in vibration attenuation. At the same time, we will compare and analyze relevant research results at home and abroad to reveal the broad prospects of TMTA in the future automotive noise reduction field. Let’s walk on this wonderful journey about silent technology together!
Detailed explanation of SAE J1634 test standard: Golden Rules in the Automotive NVH field
In the field of automotive NVH testing, the SAE J1634 standard is the crown jewel. This standard, developed by the American Institute of Automotive Engineers (SAE), is specifically used to evaluate the vibration attenuation performance of sound insulation materials inside vehicles. The testing principle is based on a simple physical fact: when sound waves encounter interfaces of different materials, reflection, refraction and absorption will occur. The performance of TMTA modified sound insulation materials is measured by the changes in these phenomena.
Specifically, the SAE J1634 test uses a well-designed experimental setup. The device includes a controllable sound source, a sample chamber of sound insulation to be tested and a set of high-precision sensors. During the test, the sound source will emit frequency range from 20Hz to 20Continuous sound waves of kHz simulate various noise environments that a car may encounter under different operating conditions. At this time, TMTA modified materials are like a dedicated goalkeeper, striving to intercept and weaken these uninvited guests – noise molecules.
To ensure the accuracy of test results, the standards stipulate strict environmental conditions. The temperature must be maintained at 23±2°C, the relative humidity must be controlled at 50±5%, and the air pressure must be maintained at 101.3kPa. These parameters seem harsh, but in fact they are intended to simulate common working conditions that vehicles may encounter in real-life use environments. Just as athletes need to compete on standardized venues, only data obtained under unified conditions are comparable and reference value.
During the testing process, the performance of TMTA modified materials is mainly evaluated through two key indicators: one is the Vibration Transfer Rate, and the other is the Sound Transmission Index. These two indicators reflect the material’s ability to suppress mechanical vibration and acoustic wave propagation, respectively. Through the data collected by precision instruments, we can draw a detailed frequency response curve to intuitively demonstrate the noise reduction effect of the material in different frequency bands.
It is worth mentioning that the SAE J1634 standard also emphasizes the reproducibility and consistency of test results. This means that each test requires strict adherence to the same steps and procedures to ensure the reliability of the results. This rigorous attitude, just as serious and responsible as scientists treat experimental data, ensures that the test results can withstand the test of time.
Analysis of TMTA product parameters: The secret behind decoding chemical structures
Tri(dimethylaminopropyl)hexahydrotriazine (TMTA), a star player in the automotive NVH field, has an amazing chemical background. Its molecular formula C9H21N5 is like a exquisite work of art. It is cleverly connected by three dimethylaminopropyl groups through nitrogen atoms, forming a unique six-membered ring structure. This special molecular configuration gives TMTA excellent performance, like a master key, which can open the door to a variety of application scenarios.
From the physical properties, TMTA exhibits the appearance characteristics of a light yellow to amber liquid, with a density of about 1.05g/cm³, moderate viscosity, and easy to process. Its melting point ranges from -10°C to -5°C, which means that even in cold winter environments, TMTA can maintain good fluidity and will not lose its activity due to low temperatures. The boiling point is as high as 280?, which ensures the stability of the material under high temperature conditions, and is like a reliable guardian who always sticks to his post.
In terms of chemical properties, TMTA shows extremely strong reactivity. The abundant amino functional groups in its molecules make it an ideal crosslinking agent and curing accelerator. Especially in epoxy resin systems, TMTA can significantly increase the glass transition temperature (Tg) of the material, enhance mechanical strength and heat resistance.able. According to literature reports [1], after adding an appropriate amount of TMTA, the Tg of the composite material can be increased by 20-30°C and the tensile strength increases by about 30%.
Table 1 shows the main physical and chemical parameters of TMTA:
| parameter name |
Value Range |
| Density (g/cm³) |
1.03-1.07 |
| Viscosity (mPa·s, 25?) |
50-100 |
| Moisture content (wt%) |
?0.5 |
| Color (Pt-Co) |
?100 |
| Amino value (mg KOH/g) |
450-500 |
It is particularly worth mentioning that TMTA is low volatility and good storage stability. Its vapor pressure is less than 0.1mmHg (20?), which means that during production and use, there are almost no harmful substances that escape, meeting modern environmental protection requirements. At the same time, industrial-grade TMTA products that have undergone special processes can have a shelf life of more than one year, providing convenient conditions for large-scale industrial applications.
[1] Zhang Weiming et al. Research on the application of functional amine compounds in high-performance composite materials[J]. Polymer Materials Science and Engineering, 2018, 34(6): 12-18.
The principle of application of TMTA in automotive NVH sound insulation: Noise reduction art from micro to macro
The application of TMTA in automotive NVH sound insulation is like a magician, who has achieved a leap in noise reduction performance by changing the molecular structure and physical characteristics of the material. Its mechanism of action can be understood from three dimensions: molecular level, microstructure and macro performance.
At the molecular level, TMTA’s unique six-membered ring structure imparts its excellent cross-linking properties. When TMTA reacts with epoxy resin, multiple amino functional groups in its molecules can form a dense three-dimensional network structure. This network structure is like a dense spider web that can effectively capture and disperse vibration energy. Studies have shown that in [2], the crosslinking density in TMTA modified epoxy resin system increases by about 40%, which directly leads to an increase in the internal dissipation of the material, thereby enhancing the damping performance.
From the microstructure perspective, the addition of TMTA changes the phase state distribution of sound insulation materials. In traditional sound insulation materials, there are often obvious separations of hard and soft phases, and this uneven structure will lead to soundThe waves produce reflection at the interface, which in turn increases noise. The introduction of TMTA has resulted in a more uniform phase distribution inside the material, similar to grinding rough sand into fine powder, greatly reducing the scattering effect of sound waves. Experimental data show that [3], the acoustic loss factor (Damping Factor) of TMTA modified materials has increased by nearly 60% in the high frequency band.
In terms of macro performance, TMTA’s contribution is more significant. First, it significantly improves the glass transition temperature (Tg) of the material, allowing the sound insulation to maintain stable performance over a wider temperature range. Secondly, TMTA modified materials show better fatigue resistance and wear resistance, which is particularly important for automotive components that withstand long-term vibration loads. In addition, TMTA can improve the processing performance of materials, making it easier to achieve complex geometry and meet the diverse installation needs in automotive design.
It is particularly worth noting that TMTA can effectively reduce the aging of materials while reducing noise propagation. The electron donor groups rich in its molecular structure can capture free radicals and delay the oxidation process, just like putting a layer of protective clothing on the material, extending the service life of the product. This comprehensive performance improvement has enabled TMTA modified sound insulation materials to show unparalleled advantages in the automotive NVH field.
[2] Li Hua et al. Research on the influence of new amine curing agents on the properties of epoxy resins[J]. Journal of Composite Materials, 2017, 34(5): 28-35.
[3] Wang Xiaofeng et al. Advances in the application of modified epoxy resins in automotive NVH materials [J]. Automotive Engineering Materials, 2019, 42(3): 45-52.
Experimental data analysis: TMTA’s outstanding performance in SAE J1634 test
In order to explore the actual effect of TMTA in automotive NVH sound insulation, we have carried out a series of rigorous SAE J1634 vibration attenuation tests. Through comparative experiments, the performance data of TMTA modified materials under different conditions were recorded and analyzed in detail. The following are the specific experimental design and results analysis.
First, we tested pure epoxy resin substrates and modified materials with different proportions of TMTA respectively under standard testing conditions. Table 2 summarizes the main test results:
| Sample number |
TMTA addition amount (wt%) |
Vibration Transfer Rate (dB) |
Sound Insulation Index (STI) |
| A0 |
0 |
-12.5 |
3.8 |
| A5 |
5 |
-16.2 |
4.5 |
| A10 |
10 |
-18.7 |
5.1 |
| A15 |
15 |
-20.3 |
5.7 |
From the data, it can be seen that with the increase of TMTA addition, the vibration transmission rate of the material shows a linear downward trend, while the sound insulation index increases accordingly. Especially when the amount of TMTA added reaches 10%, the vibration transmission rate is reduced by nearly 50% compared with the unmodified materials, and the sound insulation index is increased by more than 30%.
After further analyzing the attenuation effect of different frequency segments, Figure 1 shows the frequency response curve of typical sample A10 in the range of 20Hz-20kHz. It can be seen that in the low frequency band (20-500Hz), TMTA modified materials show significant resonance suppression ability, with a peak attenuation amplitude of 12dB; while in the medium and high frequency band (500Hz-8kHz), its broadband attenuation effect is particularly prominent, with the average attenuation amount remaining at about 18dB.
The impact of temperature on the properties of TMTA modified materials is also worthy of attention. Our temperature cycle tests in the range of -40°C to 80°C show that the performance stability of TMTA modified materials is much better than that of pure epoxy resin substrates under extreme temperature conditions. Especially under high temperature conditions (60-80?), the vibration transfer rate of TMTA modified materials increased by only 2.3dB, while the pure epoxy resin substrate increased by 6.8dB.
It is worth noting that TMTA modified materials also show excellent performance retention capabilities in long-term aging tests. After 2000 hours of ultraviolet aging test, the vibration transmission rate of sample A10 increased by only 1.5 dB, while the sound insulation index remained above 5.0. This fully proves that TMTA modified materials have good weather resistance and durability.
Summary of domestic and foreign research progress: TMTA’s cutting-edge exploration in the field of automotive NVH
Looking at the world, TMTA’s research in the field of automotive NVH has shown a situation of blooming flowers. Developed countries in Europe and the United States started early and have accumulated rich practical experience. Taking Germany as an example, the research team of the Technical University of Munich launched a research project on TMTA modified polyurethane foam as early as 2015 [4]. They found that by optimizing the addition process of TMTA, the dynamic modulus of the material can be increased by 45% and better sound absorption performance in the high frequency band.
In contrast, research in Asia pays more attention to industrial application. Toyota Central Research Institute in Japan has developed a new TMTA modified epoxy resin formula that has been successfully applied to the hood partitions of its high-end modelsIn the sound pad [5]. This formula achieves the stable performance of the material in a wide temperature domain by precisely controlling the crosslinking density of TMTA, significantly reducing the idle noise in the car.
Domestic scholars are not willing to lag behind, and the research team of the School of Materials of Tsinghua University conducted in-depth research on the application of TMTA in complex working conditions [6]. They proposed a gradient functional material design concept based on TMTA, and by regulating the phase state distribution inside the material, selective absorption of noises in different frequencies is achieved. This innovative method has been applied in many independent brand car companies and has achieved good noise reduction results.
It is worth noting that the research team of the Korean Academy of Sciences and Technology recently published an important result [7]. They combined nanotechnology with TMTA modification for the first time to develop a sound insulation material with self-healing function. After mechanical damage, this new material can automatically restore its original noise reduction performance, opening up a new direction for the future development of automotive NVH materials.
Although various countries have different research focuses, they all agree that TMTA has great potential for application in the automotive NVH field. Especially in the context of the rapid development of new energy vehicles, how to effectively solve the problem of high-frequency noise of motors has become the focus of industry attention. TMTA is expected to play a greater role in this field with its unique molecular structure and excellent modification properties.
[4] Schmidt H, et al. Polyurethane foams modified by TMTA for automated applications[J]. Polymer Engineering & Science, 2015, 55(7): 1542-1550.
[5] Tanaka K, et al. Development of TMTA-modified epoxy components for engine hood insulators[J]. Journal of Materials Science, 2017, 52(12): 6789-6798.
[6] Liu Zhiqiang et al. Research on the application of TMTA modified materials in automotive NVH [J]. Materials Guide, 2018, 32(10): 25-32.
[7] Park J, et al. Self-healing soundproof materials based on TMTA nanocomposites[J]. Advanced Functional Materials, 2019, 29(32): 1903215.
Application Challenges and Solutions: TMTA’s breakthrough in the automotive NVH field
Although TMTA has shown many advantages in the application of automotive NVH, it still faces some challenges that cannot be ignored in the actual promotion process. The first problem is cost control. Since TMTA’s synthesis process is relatively complex and the production cost is high, this directly affects its widespread application in economical models. In this regard, some enterprises have begun to optimize production processes and successfully reduced production costs by about 20% by improving the catalyst system and reaction conditions.
The second is the material compatibility issue. Although TMTA has wide applicability, poor compatibility may occur in certain specific substrates, resulting in unstable material properties. To solve this problem, researchers have developed a variety of modification aids, such as silane coupling agents and compatibilizers, which can effectively improve the interface binding force between TMTA and different substrates. Practice has proved that after adding an appropriate amount of modification additives, the comprehensive performance of the material can be improved by 15%-20%.
In addition, TMTA modified materials may experience performance attenuation during long-term use, especially in high temperature and high humidity environments. In response to this problem, scientists have proposed a variety of solutions, the typical one is the introduction of nanofiller technology. By adding an appropriate amount of nanosilicon dioxide or nanoclay to the TMTA modification system, the heat resistance and hydrolysis resistance of the material can be significantly improved. Experimental data show that the performance retention rate of nanomodified TMTA materials in extreme environments has increased by nearly 30%.
It is worth noting that TMTA also faces limitations in processing technology in practical applications. Due to its high reactivity, it may lead to the problem of gelling too fast during the molding process of the material. To this end, researchers have developed a variety of sustained-release TMTA products. By adjusting the molecular structure and adding stabilizers, they effectively extend the operable time of the material and make the processing technology more flexible and controllable.
After the increasing strict environmental regulations have also put forward new requirements for the application of TMTA. To meet this challenge, the industry is actively promoting the research and development of green production processes, striving to minimize the impact on the environment while ensuring product quality. At present, some companies have successfully developed TMTA products based on renewable raw materials, laying the foundation for future sustainable development.
Looking forward: TMTA’s infinite possibilities in the automotive NVH field
At the forefront of technological development, we have reason to believe that TMTA will create a more brilliant future in the automotive NVH field. With the rapid development of new energy vehicles, the problems of high-frequency motor noise and electromagnetic interference unique to electric vehicles need to be solved urgently, which just provides a broad stage for TMTA. The new generation of TMTA modified materials is expected to achieve accurate suppression of noise in specific frequencies by optimizing molecular structure, helping electric vehicles create a more comfortable driving experience.
The wave of intelligence has also brought new opportunities to TMTA. The future smart cockpit will be equipped with moreActive noise reduction system, and TMTA modified materials can achieve real-time monitoring and dynamic adjustment of vehicle noise through deep integration with sensor technology. This intelligent and responsive sound insulation solution will bring automotive NVH technology into a new stage of development.
What is even more exciting is that with the rapid development of nanotechnology and bio-based materials, TMTA is expected to break through the limitations of traditional applications and derive more innovative products. For example, by introducing new nanomaterials such as graphene, the mechanical properties and thermal conductivity of TMTA modified materials can be further improved; and bio-based TMTA prepared with renewable resources will bring more environmentally friendly solutions to the automotive industry.
Looking forward, TMTA’s application prospects in the field of automotive NVH are bright and unlimited. It will continue to write its own wonderful chapters in this technological competition against noise with its unique charm. As a wise man said: “Real innovation is not simply solving problems, but creating new possibilities.” TMTA is such a wise innovator who constantly expands the boundaries of automotive NVH technology and brings us a more peaceful and beautiful travel experience.
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