Nye Lubricants Focuses Development Effort on Automotive Connector Lubricants

    FAIRHAVEN, Mass.--Feb. 4, 2002--Nye Lubricants, Inc. has identified the development of a new high-temperature synthetic lubricant that reduces the force required to mate automotive connectors as one of its key R&D goals for 2002.
    "The planets are aligned," Nye's director of sales and marketing Brian Holley said. "At least six of the world biggest terminal and connector manufacturers have come to Nye over the last year with insertion force issues. It's clearly an industry problem that we're committed to solve."
    The problem is one only a design engineer can fully appreciate, Holley explained. To minimize connector failure from fretting corrosion, manufacturers developed high-contact-force, spring-loaded connectors. Fretting corrosion happens when mated contacts are subject to low amplitude vibration, which creates wear debris that can cause intermittent operation and eventual failure. Introducing high contact force virtually eliminates relative motion between mated contacts, but it increases the amount of force needed to mate the connectors. Wire harnesses and other multi-pin connectors that can have dozens of pins multiplies the mating force required. The problem: As mating force increases, it is harder to get a secure connection. Combine high insertion force and "blind connectors" -- ones that are underneath or behind other components -- and mating integrity is further jeopardized.
    "Before the use of high contact force, fretting corrosion was minimized with NyoGel 760G, a synthetic connector grease Nye developed more than 10 years ago," Holley said. "In fact, NyoGel 760G has become `the standard' in automotive connectors, specified by DaimlerChrysler, Ford, and General Motors. We believe 760G will continue to play a major role in minimizing fretting corrosion, perhaps even in the new Flex connectors, where insertion force is not an issue. However, NyoGel 760G was not designed for operating environments above 125 degrees Celsius, nor was its primary goal to reduce insertion force -- two conditions created with new high-contact-force connectors.
    "What we now aim to design is the first major improvement in automotive connector greases in the 21st century: a synthetic grease than can minimize insertion force on multi-pin connectors and survive engine compartment temperatures of 200 degrees Celsius or higher. Nye has already created several experimental connector greases for a Tier 1 Supplier that show promise both mechanically and electrically."

    Nye welcomes the participation of connector and vehicle manufacturers in this endeavor, Holley added. For more information, technical and engineering management are invited contact Nye's technical services department at 508-996-6721 or techhelp@nyelubricants.com.

    Nye Lubricants is an engineering company dedicated to designing synthetic lubricants that add performance and value to mechanical and electromechanical components. Its products are specified in a full range of industries, including automotive, aerospace, appliance, aviation, electronics, medical instrumentation, office automation, paperboard manufacturing, photonics, recreational equipment, semiconductor manufacturing, telecommunications, and textiles. Founded in 1844, Nye maintains regional engineering offices throughout the United States as well as a network of distributors in Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, and South America.