Indispensable for the interior of modern cars
Without gases there would be no cars as we know them. They are not only needed in metalworking for the body and drive, but also for the interior of the vehicle. Their use is a prerequisite for comfort and safety.
Airbag
When the 'air pocket' has to perform its protective function, it contains not air but a mixture of nitrogen and helium. These gases are completely inert and non-flammable in the event of an accident. Above all, however, helium is extremely light. And the lighter the gas, the faster it can expand from its compressed state and fill the airbag.
Seat cushion
The cushioning material is usually polyurethane. For safety reasons it must not be foamed with combustible gases. Instead, inert carbon dioxide is used for this task. This results in very small bubbles and a uniform structure. The mechanical properties are significantly better than in conventionally foamed seat cushions. This means more support, more comfort and more safety.
Seat frames
The seat frames, rails and mounting elements are made of metal, usually steel or aluminum. Gases are used in the production of the intermediate products, such as oxygen for the burners or nitrogen and hydrogen for the heat treatment furnaces. The frames are then welded with the appropriate gas mixtures ensuring the quality of the seams.
Electronics
Today's cars are mobile computing and communication centers, and the interior is also becoming increasingly electronic. From GPS to music systems to automatic seat adjustment, small control units are integrated everywhere. Their circuit boards – like practically all printed circuit boards – are soldered in a protective atmosphere of nitrogen.
Air conditioning
Since 2017 the use of conventional refrigerants made from hydrofluorocarbons (HFC) has been largely banned in car air conditioning systems. The environmentally friendly alternative is carbon dioxide. The gas is used here in a closed system and helps to keep the temperature of the passenger compartment bearable even when it is very hot outside. Before installation, the air conditioning system is subjected to a leak test with helium.
Damping elements
To prevent buzzing and rattling during driving, damping rubber elements are placed between assembled parts. The burrs and nipples that remain when casting these rubber pieces are removed with the help of cryogenic nitrogen. It makes the material brittle, so the protrusions can be removed with minimal mechanical effort.
Leather and imitation leather
Lasers not only cut metal, but practically all materials. For example, leather covers are customized using a laser beam. Pure nitrogen is used as the cutting gas. It protects the cut edges and blows out the cutting gap to keep smoke and vapors away from the optics.
For more than 125 years, Messer, the today’s world's largest privately owned company for industrial gases, medical gases, specialty gases, and gases for electronics, committed to its guiding principles of safety, focus on customers and employees, responsibility for our society, sustainability, trust, and respect. Messer's Gases for Life and patented gas applications are essential for environmental protection, climate protection, decarbonization, and innovation.
