TRAVELING IN COMFORT AND SAFETY
Without gases there would be no cars as we know them. And that’s not only because of the various metalworking processes needed to manufacture a car’s body and engine. The interior also relies on these mercurial aides to ensure comfort and safety.
Airbags
An airbag uses a mixture of nitrogen and helium, which are completely inert and non-flammable in a crash. But above all, helium is extremely lightweight. And the lighter the gas, the quicker it can expand from its compressed state and fill the airbag.
Upholstery
The upholstery material usually consists of polyurethane. For safety reasons flammable gases must not be used in the foaming process. That’s why the inert gas carbon dioxide is used for this production step.
Seat frames
The seat frames, rails and fastening elements are made of metal. Even the process of manufacturing the intermediate products involves the use of gases, such as oxygen for the burners or nitrogen and hydrogen for the heat treatment furnaces. The frames are then welded using the right gas mixtures to ensure the necessary weld quality.
Electronics
Our cars are equipped with more and more electronics. From navigation and audio systems to automatic seat adjustment, small control modules are installed everywhere. Their circuit boards – like virtually all printed circuit boards – are soldered under protective nitrogen atmosphere.
