General Motors engineers are planning to use material used in diaper to simulate snow year round to maximize the heating capabilities of its cars.
GM Vehicle Thermal Systems engineer Nicholas Jahn found out that sodium polyacrylate in powered state used in diapers turns into a snow-like substance when saturated.
Packed snow is capable of prevent air from entering the inlet panel at the bottom of the windshield, which can obstruct the flow of air into the heating system and reduces the amount of air inlet panel can push out.
It could cause less efficient warming of the car's interior and windshield defrosting.
Jahn sprinkled the reusable snow onto the air inlet vents of Chevrolet Cruze and started the car and let it idle.
After a few minutes, Jahn removed the inlet panel and analyzed the amount of snow that was sucked into the system and how much of the intake vents remained blocked.
The research suggested that Sodium polyacrylate can be used anywhere in all seasons.
Jahn said: "The last thing anyone wants to do when it's freezing cold out is scrape their windshield.
"The testing we perform on the Chevrolet Cruze with the diaper material allows us to maximize the car's heating capabilities."
