Have you noticed that some vehicles on the road have a 'T' following the engine displacement figure in their model designation? This actually indicates that the vehicle's engine is fitted with a turbocharger. This device increases engine output power during high-speed driving whilst offering relative fuel efficiency.

The intake and exhaust intercooling system for automotive engines equipped with turbochargers typically comprises an air filter, turbocharger, intercooler, and connecting ductwork. The air delivery ducts must employ rubber hoses connected to steel pipes, or rubber hoses connected to blow-moulded pipes, or directly to corrugated blow-moulded pipes. The excellent flexibility and vibration-damping properties of rubber or corrugated blow-moulded pipes facilitate duct layout and assembly while significantly enhancing the air delivery system's capacity to absorb vibrations. Fresh air, after filtration through the air cleaner and pressurisation by the turbocharger, undergoes significant temperature rise during compression. Typically reaching 150°C to 200°C, gas temperatures in high-boost-ratio engines may exceed 200°C, even surpassing 275°C. Following cooling through the intercooler, the gas medium temperature drops below 60°C. This increases the density of the fresh air, enabling the engine to draw in greater volumes of air and inject more fuel. This promotes more complete combustion, thereby reducing fuel consumption and emissions while enhancing engine power output.

Turbocharger hoses, serving as the conduit between the engine and turbocharger, must withstand the swelling and ageing caused by high-temperature oil vapour during both the intercooler intake and exhaust processes, while maintaining flexibility at low temperatures. Given that turbochargers frequently operate under high-speed, high-temperature conditions—with exhaust turbine temperatures reaching approximately 600°C and rotor speeds of 8000–11000 rpm—all layers (inner, reinforcement, and outer) must exhibit resistance to high-temperature ageing. Consequently, inner layers typically employ ACM, VMQ, FKM, AEM, or EPDM compounds, while outer layers utilise ACM, VMQ, FKM, AEM, ABS (GDM), or similar materials. The reinforcement layer incorporates polyester or aromatic polyamide materials. These rubber compounds, capable of withstanding demanding operating conditions, are costly and relatively challenging to process. Consequently, developing an appropriate formulation system to achieve the desired performance while reducing costs to some extent represents a key challenge for turbocharger hose manufacturers and developers.

THERMAX N990 medium-particle pyrolytic carbon black is produced through the thermal cracking of natural gas. This pyrolysis process endows the carbon black with distinctive characteristics of large particle size and low structure. THERMAX N990 finds widespread application due to its ability to impart heat resistance, oil resistance, chemical resistance, and excellent dynamic properties to products. Its large particle size and low structure confer high fillability. Characteristics such as low compression set, high rebound elasticity, and low hysteresis enable the compound to retain the inherent elastomeric properties of rubber. As a non-reinforcing carbon black, the use of THERMAX pyrolytic carbon black in compounds is frequently employed to achieve cost reduction and obtain specific physical properties.

The use of THERMAX N990 in rubber compounds such as FKM and ACM/AEM demonstrates a superior overall balance of processing and product performance compared to any other carbon black variety. These favourable properties remain stable across varying filler levels and hardness requirements, outperforming other carbon blacks in product applications. THERMAX N990 serves as a cost-effective filler in FKM, ACM/AEM and similar rubber applications, particularly under high-filling conditions. High filling reduces polymer content in the compound, thereby lowering costs. Simultaneously, the inclusion of THERMAX N990 enhances the compound's resistance to oil and gas ageing, as well as high-temperature ageing. It also facilitates easier mixing and extrusion processes. It effectively addresses adhesion issues between inner/outer rubber layers and reinforcement layers. During high-pulse gas vibrations within the hose, it maintains excellent dynamic performance, thereby ensuring the longevity of the entire turbocharger system assembly.

THERMAX N990 Carbon Black ensures sustained power for your vehicle during high-speed driving.