The 2003 Chrysler Town & Country, Voyager and Dodge Caravan minivans feature a new cowl plenum manufactured with Quiet Steel™ from Material Sciences Corporation (MSC). It is DaimlerChrysler Corporation’s first structural body implementation of this engineered multi-layer laminate, a technology that was awarded the 2003 PACE Award.

On the DaimlerChrysler minivans, the cowl plenum serves as part of the barrier between the engine and passenger compartment, preventing heat, noise and vibration from entering the cabin. Previously, the cowl plenum was made from a “patch constrained layer assembly” – a sandwich of regular steel and a mastic material. According to Jon Jacobs, Strategic Account Manager with MSC’s Automotive Operations, “Quiet Steel™ enabled DaimlerChrysler to replace a time- and labor-intensive subassembly process with a single stamping. As a result, overall system costs were reduced and the associated component weight is now half a pound lighter. In the end, MSC delivered a win-win. We reduced cost and weight without degrading vehicle noise performance.”

Quiet Steel™, a patented multi-layer laminate from Material Sciences Corporation (MSC), replaces the standard steel in vehicle body structures while simultaneously providing a significant reduction in vehicle sound and vibration levels. Developed by MSC’s Engineered Materials and Solutions Group, Quiet Steel™ consists of an engineered viscoelastic layer sandwiched between two cold-rolled layers of steel. The viscoelastic layer is a “tunable” formulation, allowing vehicle designers to attenuate specific frequencies depending on where in the vehicle they use Quiet Steel™. The laminate may be further engineered with corrosion resistance or other value-added processing. When this initial processing is complete, OEMs may form, stamp, and weld Quiet Steel™ as they would any standard steel. Unlike steel treated with other damping material, 100% of Quiet Steel™ can be easily recycled.

Based on the success of the cowl plenum application, DaimlerChrysler is evaluating Quiet Steel™ for a wider range of applications on other vehicles. Robert Lazarevich, Body Structure Engineering Supervisor for the DaimlerChrysler minivan program, said “The Dodge and Chrysler minivans essentially created this entire segment, and we continue to push the potential of these vehicles in terms of quality, features and design. Quiet Steel™ is an ideal example of innovative engineering with a clear benefit, both to our company and to our customers. MSC is helping us maintain our class-leading stature in this enormously competitive market.”

The 2003 PACE Award, given to MSC for their Quiet Steel™ technology, was established in 1994 to honor those suppliers who have embraced innovation or adapted and reinvented themselves to meet the demands of the OEM customer. This prestigious award has become a significant industry credential.

Material Sciences Corporation is a leading provider of material-based solutions that solve customer-specific problems, overcome technical barriers, and enhance performance. Headquartered outside of Chicago, Illinois, the company’s Automotive Noise and Vibration Technical Center is located in Farmington Hills, Michigan.

For more information contact Gregory N. Corda, Marketing Manager at 248-994-4440 or email greg.corda@matsci.com. You may also visit the company’s Quiet Steel™ website at www.quietsteel.com.

MSC – Material Sciences Corporation, 39303 Country Club Drive, Suite A-11, Farmington Hills, Michigan 48331, USA.