Environmental Sealing and Protection Archives - Boyd | Trusted Innovation

What is NVH and BSR

Amanda — Tue, 10 Feb 2026 14:28:27 +0000

Introduction to NVH and BSR

Noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH) are unwanted characteristics in a mechanical system. Buzz, squeak, and rattle (BSR) are from the relative motion between components that generate unpleasant noise or vibration for an end user. NVH and BSR can wear down mechanical and bonded joints and mating surfaces or negatively impact customer satisfaction with unwanted noise.

Continue reading to learn more about NVH and BSR, the impact, and how engineers identify and resolve NVH and BSR issues.

What is NVH (Noise, Vibration, Harshness)?

Noise:

Acoustic energy produced by a mechanical system, typically measured in decibels (dB).

Vibration:

Mechanical oscillation of structures and components, typically measured in Hertz (Hz) or acceleration (g).

Harshness:

Subjective perception of how aggressive or rough a system’s sound or feel is to the user.

What Does NVH Mean in Engineering?

Noise, vibration, and harshness, also known as NVH, refers to the quantitative and qualitative analysis of how dynamic systems generate, transmit, and present sound and vibration. NVH encompasses mechanical dynamics, acoustics, materials science, and human perception, to optimize machines’ vibroacoustic properties for maximum consumer comfort and product quality.

What is BSR (Buzz, Squeak, Rattle)?

Buzz:

Caused by loose components vibrating at high frequency.

Squeak:

Generated by friction between two surfaces under relative motion.

Rattle:

Results from impacts between components with clearance or play.

Understanding BSR: Buzz, Squeak, and Rattle Explained

BSR refers to unintended and intermittent noises created by component contact due to tolerance variation, material wear, or insufficient damping. It is most commonly found in vehicle interiors, consumer electronics, and assembled plastic parts.

What is the Difference Between NVH and BSR?

NVH is a broad term that describes overall sound and vibration behavior in a machine and focuses on predictable or continuous sounds and vibrations generated during operation.

As a subsect of NVH, BSR targets non-structural or low-frequency acoustic disturbances. These are usually intermittent, and result from fit-and-finish problems, loose fasteners, or material friction.

Why NVH and BSR Matter in Product Design

NVH affects durability, energy efficiency, safety, and perceived quality of machine design. To predict and mitigate NVH issues during early design stages, engineers use model analysis, finite element analysis (FEA), and acoustic simulations. BSR is critical in fit-and-finish validation, especially in products with tight assembly tolerances and high consumer expectations. Engineers address BSR using tribology principles, damping materials, adhesives, gaskets, and improved fastening designs.

NVH Testing and Analysis Methods

Acoustic Testing measures how loud a component or system identifies the frequencies of the sound. Using microphones or microphone arrays, anechoic rooms or semi-anechoic chambers, or the FFT (Fast Fourier Transform) algorithm to break noise into frequencies, engineers locate areas exuding wind noise, engine/motor noise, whining, humming, and air leaks.

Vibration Testing measures how much a structure or component vibrates and at which frequency. Engineers place accelerometers on components, apply controlled vibration with shaker tables, or use sine sweeps or random vibration tests. These tests find loose components, resonances, drivetrain vibration, and imbalance.

Modal Analysis measures how a structure naturally vibrates by analyzing its natural frequencies, mode shapes, and damping. Using impact hammers, laser vibrometers, or animated diagrams, engineers identify panel vibrations, buzzing surfaces, and structural weak points.

Transfer Path Analysis (TPA) measures where a noise or vibration originates and how it travels through a structure. By measuring forces and vibrations at mounts or interfaces and tracing them from source through the structure and to receiver, engineers rank the strongest vibration/noise paths, pinpointing the main contributors to NVH.

Order Tracking Analysis measures noise and vibration from rotating parts relative to their speed. Using tools such as a tachometer to measure rotational speed, engineers detect gear whine, EV motor whine, shaft imbalance, and bearing issues.

Road Load Data Acquisition (RLDA) measures real-world vehicle load and vibration during system operation through sensors on wheels, suspension, engine, and the body, along with microphones inside the cabin while driving on different road types. These tests show how the system behaves on real surfaces, including road noise, impact harshness, and cabin noise.

NVH analysis also includes software simulations. For example, Finite Element Analysis (FEA) predicts structural vibration and mode shapes before building prototypes. The Boundary Element Method (BEM) simulates sound radiation from surfaces into air, and Multi-Body Dynamics (MBD) simulates system movement to predict vibration issues.

NVH Reduction Techniques and Materials

NVH reduction relies on three main engineering technique types – dampers, isolators, and absorbers and barriers. Dampers, such as viscoelastic pads, convert vibration into heat to reduce its impact. Isolators, such as rubber mounts, bushings, and grommets, prevent vibrations from spreading between components. Absorbers and barriers manage airborne noise and block unwanted noise. Absorbers include materials like acoustic foams and fiberglass, while barriers use mass-loaded vinyl and dense composite mats.

Advanced Vibration Damping and Acoustic Insulation Solutions

By optimizing engineered materials and smart technologies, advanced acoustic insulation solutions control noise and vibration more effectively than standard foams and rubber mounts. Vibration damping includes methods such as constrained layer damping (CLD), which sandwiches a viscoelastic layer between rigid panels to absorb energy, or tuned mass dampers (TMDs) that counteract specific resonant frequencies. Other high-performance options include particle damping, adaptive magnetorheological (MR) and electrorheological (ER) fluid dampers, and active piezoelectric systems; all designed efficiently to cancel or dissipate vibration energy.

Collaborate with Boyd for NVH and BSR solutions. Our experts leverage decades of material science expertise and advanced engineering techniques to reduce noise, vibration, and rattles, helping your products deliver superior performance and quality.

The post What is NVH and BSR appeared first on Boyd | Trusted Innovation.

Beyond the Basics: Innovative Silicone Molding Uses

Amanda — Tue, 29 Oct 2024 19:05:05 +0000

Silicone Molding: Driving Innovation Across Industries

Silicone molding is essential for industries that demand durability, flexibility, and reliability. Its versatile properties enable manufacturers to create application-specific solutions, from seals that endure extreme temperatures to tubes resistant to harsh chemicals. As industries push for higher performance and safety standards, silicone molding continues to drive innovation. Boyd supports this progress by delivering advanced silicone solutions across eMobility, Medical, Industrial, and Food and Beverage sectors, ensuring compliance with industry certifications and providing precision through global manufacturing capabilities.

Advanced Silicone Seals for EV Components

Boyd provides silicone solutions for motor coolant seals, battery housing seals, and charging port seals in the fast-evolving eMobility sector. Our battery housing seals absorb extreme mechanical energy, ensuring efficient assembly and leak-free performance. Boyd’s proprietary silicone polymers offer durable, long-lasting performance in EV applications by resisting oils, liquids, and harsh chemicals. Our charging port seals, engineered with UV and weather-resistant silicone compounds, ensure long flex life and reliable performance in challenging outdoor environments.

Precision Silicone for Medical Devices: Ensuring Patient Safety

In medical applications, silicone molding ensures safety and performance in patient care. Boyd designs proprietary silicone compounds and geometries for devices like anesthesia and respiratory equipment to enhance treatment effectiveness. Our silicone seals and components withstand multiple sterilization cycles and prevent contamination, making them ideal for direct patient contact. Boyd’s skin-safe formulations provide both comfort and safety during medical procedures.

Silicone Solutions for Industrial Durability

Boyd’s silicone molding solutions for industrial applications include silicone tubes, assemblies, and seals. We craft formulas and geometries designed to withstand harsh environments like extreme temperatures, high flex cycles, and chemical exposure. Our silicone seals deliver leak-free performance against oils, gases, and other liquids, while providing long-term mechanical damping. These solutions ensure superior protection and reliability, optimizing operational efficiency for industrial systems.

From Dispensing to Packaging: Silicone for the Food and Beverage Industry

Boyd’s silicone molding solutions support the food and beverage industry with reliable seals for dispensing and packaging equipment, filtration systems, and coffee machines. Our fluid dispensing tubes and filling system seals are designed to meet strict hygiene and performance standards. With industry-specific certifications like NSF-51 and NSF-61, Boyd ensures that our silicone solutions in food and beverage applications comply with safety and regulatory requirements.

Trusted Partner for Regulated Applications: Boyd’s Silicone Molding

Boyd leverages global material innovation and decades of silicone molding expertise to lead in delivering critical silicone solutions for regulated applications. Our technical design and engineering teams provide support with material selection, design for manufacturing (DFM), and prototyping, while our global manufacturing footprint ensures efficient production and distribution. From clean room manufacturing to top silicone formulations, Boyd is your trusted partner for silicone molding solutions.

Whether in eMobility, Industrial, Medical, or Food and Beverage industries, Boyd engineers silicone molding applications for performance, safety, and reliability. Connect with us to explore how we can help innovate your next project.

The post Beyond the Basics: Innovative Silicone Molding Uses appeared first on Boyd | Trusted Innovation.

Noise and Vibration Dampening (Part 2)

Boyd Blog — Thu, 13 Feb 2020 13:53:44 +0000

In our previous blog Noise and vibration dampening (Part 1), we learned the fundamentals of acoustic management solutions. In this blog, we’ll be exploring some of the widely employed noise-blocking solutions by Boyd:

Boyd’s SOLIMIDE® Foams – SOLIMIDE® Foams are Boyd’s specialty open-celled polyimide foams are designed to combine excellent lightweight, thermal, and acoustic properties with enhanced fire protection and safety characteristics. These foams can withstand continuous use temperatures up to 200-300°C and still maintain stability and pliancy when immersed in liquid nitrogen. SOLIMIDE® Foam exceeds FAR 25.856 fire resistance specifications, will not burn and emits very little smoke when exposed to flame, making SOLIMIDE® the ideal noise absorbing material for safety-critical applications in eMobility, defense, and aerospace. Industrial applications where reducing noise and vibration while maintaining high cleanliness like semiconductor manufacturing benefit from SOLIMIDE® Foams’ low off-gassing and formaldehyde-free construction, that possess high hydrolytic stability and doesn’t not support microbial growth.

Roger’s PORON® urethane foams – PORON® urethane foams are open-celled materials with high dimensional stability and excellent viscoelasticity that hold up well under continued vibration. With a high resistance to stress, relaxation, and compression, urethane foams do not collapse under pressure and always return to 99% of their original dimension. Ensuring consistency and reliability in crucial applications, urethane foams are seen in various constructions ranging from extra soft, very soft, soft, firm, to very firm. These durable foams are flame retardant, chemical resistant, and can sustain a broad range of temperatures from -40°C to 90°C. Equipped with excellent gap filling, sealing, and gasketing properties, these foams offer good absorption for medium to high impact.

Roger’s BISCO® silicones – BISCO® silicones, made of cellular, solid, or specialty silicone materials, offer similar benefits and features as the PORON® urethane foam. The chief differentiating factor remains BISCO® silicone’s high flame resistance and the ability to withstand high temperatures. The cellular silicones, available in varying thicknesses, provide high resistance to compression and high tensile strength. Solid silicones, made of a solid rubber-like material, are available in a range of durometers from 10-40 Shore A. The specialty silicones, bringing together a combination of cellular and solid silicones, are seen in durometers from 40-70 Shore A.

3M’s vibration damping and slick surface tapes – With a soft aluminum backing, the vibration damping tapes from 3M mitigate resonant noise, vibration, and fatigue. Used for attaching irregular and uneven surfaces, the tapes can hold up to 50 pounds per square inch of strength. They are pressure-sensitive tapes with high viscoelasticity that reduces stress and dissipate noise across the surface. Similar to vibration damping tapes, very high bond (VHB) tapes from 3M also offer dampening properties due to their high viscoelasticity. Slick surface tapes from 3M utilize Ultra-High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UHMW-PE) and Polytetrafluorethylene (PTFE) formulations to mitigate friction between the two contact surfaces.

Boyd’s in-house material science expertise, precision converting experience, and close supplier relationships enable us to offer custom-engineered solutions to your specific design needs. To learn more about our die-cutting capabilities or to discuss your specific acoustic challenges, reach out to our experts.

The post Noise and Vibration Dampening (Part 2) appeared first on Boyd | Trusted Innovation.

Noise and Vibration Dampening (Part 1)

Boyd Blog — Mon, 10 Feb 2020 13:53:44 +0000

Buzz, squeak, and rattle (BSR), a term frequently used by automotive engineers, refers to the incessant noise or unwanted squeaky sound that you hear in your car at times. While BSR remains one of the most common, yet challenging problems of the automotive industry, it is also of paramount importance in other industries including electronics, aerospace, and appliances. BSR can be caused by any moving components or the improper bonding and attachment of two parts. Whether it’s a cooling fan, medical pump, or washing machine, moving components within a device often causes friction, damaging the parts over their lifetime. In addition, devices, especially hand-held and portable ones, are prone to severe impact by a sudden hit or drop on the floor. Minimizing noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH) is critical to the optimal performance and longevity of any device. In the past, the issue of NVH was addressed by inserting a piece of neoprene or rubber between two components, held together by a screw, nut, or bolt. While this solution helps to reduce vibration, the mechanical fasteners create a rigid bond that is susceptible to cracking or breaking on impact. More recently, engineers often try to attack the problem of vibration at the source, which is commonly known as vibration isolation. However, in cases where isolation is not possible, the issue is resolved by introducing noise and vibration dampeners. The dampeners essentially absorb the noise and dissipate it over the surface, thus mitigating fatigue, stress, and vibration. Finding the right noise-blocking solutions can not only improve device quality, but also enhance the end-user experience. Fortunately, companies such as Boyd, 3M, and Rogers Corporation have opened doors to multiple acoustic management solutions in the form of acoustic foams such as SOLIMIDE® Foams, tapes, and adhesives. In addition to replacing mechanical fasteners, these solutions exhibit high resiliency and shock absorption characteristics. This cost-effective approach to acoustic damping offers the following advantages:

Minimize noise, vibration, and harshness
Reduce buzz, squeak, and rattle
Exhibit high viscoelasticity, resiliency, and dimensional stability
Allow for quick and easy application
Improve the durability and performance of the device

While each application requires a customized solution, there are certain product families that are predominantly utilized by Boyd to resolve noise and vibration design challenges. To learn more about these noise and vibration solutions, stay tuned for our next blog.

The post Noise and Vibration Dampening (Part 1) appeared first on Boyd | Trusted Innovation.