GORE^® ePTFE Membranes Relieve Pressure to Prevent Damage to Outdoor Electronic Housings

Without a vent system for pressure equalization, sealed outdoor electronic housings are vulnerable to damaging pressure imbalances caused by rapidly-changing temperatures, air pressures or altitudes. Such pressure differentials can stress seals repeatedly until they fail — after which, further pressure imbalances can draw damaging contaminants and liquids into the housing.

GORE® Protective Vents serve as pressure relief valves, to protect seals from stress and premature breakdowns while at the same time protecting the enclosure’s valuable components, because:

• These pressure vents “breathe” in two directions: they allow air and gases to move freely back and forth to equalize pressures between the housing’s interior and external environment. So if a cold thunderstorm suddenly hits a housing that’s been baking in the sun all day, these breather vents quickly equalize the resulting temperature and pressure imbalance. This not only protects seals from stress, it can also protect enclosures from pressure-induced deformation. This level of breathability can also reduce the frequency and severity of condensation.
• Along with providing a temperature-pressure relief valve, these breathable GORE® Vents can reliably block ingress of contaminants. The integrated GORE Membrane has pores large enough to let air and gas molecules pass freely … but small enough to block entry of water drops, fluids or corrosive liquids, dust, dirt, salts, sand and other damaging contaminants.

By combining rapid, responsive equalization of pressure differentials with effective and durable barrier protection, GORE Protective Vents can extend the integrity of sealed outdoor electronic housings, and the reliability and service-life of the components within.

For applications using smaller, thin-walled enclosures or streamlined housing designs, Gore’s Adhesive Series can provide an excellent air release vent solution. Along with air, gas molecules flow easily through these vents. This bidirectional flow of gases provides the reliable and consistent performance characteristics required for gas sensor applications. These durable low-profile vents are easy to integrate, and can keep the smallest, most tightly-packed telecom or lighting enclosures breathing easily, and gas sensors registering accurately.

The Gore Screw-In Series offers options for a wide range of typical outdoor enclosure volumes. And these vents are rugged: they meet some of the industry’s toughest standards, for everything from high airflow for large enclosures to UL-flammability resistance, as well as a choice of stainless-steel breather plugs with IK10 mechanical impact resistance, or IECEx and ATEX certifications for use in potentially-explosive environments. The Screw-In Series is tough enough to withstand harsh environmental conditions, and durable enough to enable an increased product lifetime.

For applications that demand fast, secure installation and durable performance in the field, Gore’s Snap-In Series offers performance options that meet a broad range of needs: from high-pressure relief valves in enclosure volumes up to 30 liters, to low-pressure relief valves for enclosures volumes of up to 2 liters. They are ideal for use in applications such as vehicle-mounted telematics and antennas that must withstand everything from mechanical vibration, to UV degradation, to the fiercest extremes of weather and temperatures.

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All GORE Protective Vents for outdoor electronics have been fully tested by independent laboratories and are certified to withstand a wide range of environmental challenges. In particular, these vents perform reliably in a wide range of operating temperatures, and durably withstand environments with significant temperature cycling.

• Public, Commercial and Industrial Lighting
• Telecommunications Towers, Systems and Components
• Solar, Energy Grid and Batteries
• Heavy-Duty Construction, Material Handling and Agricultural Equipment
• Surveillance, Security, Tracking and Monitoring Systems