Carbon technology in the automotive industry - from traction motors to fuel pumps

Wherever conventional materials reach their limits, components made of carbon, graphite, and fiber-reinforced composites are the superior solution. Mechanical carbon components (MCA) are self-lubricating, temperature-resistant, and corrosion-resistant—without an external lubricant supply—and are used in fuel pumps, vacuum pumps for brake boosters, coolant pumps, and exhaust systems. In high-performance electric motors, our fiber-reinforced armor sleeves and split tubes made of CFRP and GFRP act as a bandage, keeping the air gap between rotor and stator minimal—lighter in weight and magnetically transparent compared to metal bandages.

Carbon brushes from Schunk are the heart of brush-equipped electric motors in vehicles. They are used in a wide range of applications: traction motors and starters, electric fuel pumps, heating and air conditioning fans, window regulators, seat adjusters, sunroofs, mirror adjusters, and safety-critical systems such as ABS motors and electric brake motors. Each application receives the precisely matched material—tailored to speed, current, environmental conditions, and desired service life. 

The electrification of the powertrain places new demands on carbon components: High-frequency shaft voltages generated by SiC inverters must be safely dissipated to prevent bearing damage—and in separately excited synchronous motors (FSM), the excitation current must be reliably transmitted to the rotor. Our carbon solutions for shaft grounding and current transmission are specifically designed for automotive applications and are certified to IATF 16949. 

Latent Heat Carbon for Thermal Runaway Prevention—an overview of all products.