GORE® Acoustic Vents for Mobile Electronics
GORE® Acoustic Vents for Mobile Electronics are a family of ePTFE membrane-based venting components designed to simultaneously protect mobile devices from dust, liquid, and particle ingress while preserving acoustic transparency for microphones, speakers, and other transducers. The portfolio spans ten grades — from dust and splash protection (IP4X through IP64) to shallow immersion (IP67/IP68 at 1–2 meters) and deep immersion (ISO 22810, up to 100 meters) — with typical acoustic insertion loss as low as <0.1 dB at 1 kHz for the lightest-protection grades.
The ePTFE membrane at the core of each vent uses a three-dimensional tortuous path microstructure that captures particles of varied shapes and sizes while allowing bidirectional passage of air and vapor. This architecture maintains consistent airflow even as particles accumulate, unlike woven materials whose two-dimensional structure can clog and lose venting effectiveness. Membrane characteristics include oleophobic or hydrophobic surface treatments depending on grade, providing protection against both water and low-surface-tension liquids.
All standard parts are constructed with a PET support ring and acrylic adhesive. To the best of the manufacturer’s knowledge, all standard parts meet the threshold requirements of RoHS Directive 2011/65/EU.
Key Properties
- IP Rating Range: IP4X (dust and splash) through IP68 (5 m @ 30 min) and ISO 22810 (50 m @ 10 min; 100 m @ 15 min)
- Typical Insertion Loss @ 1 kHz (I.D. 1.6 mm): <0.1 dB (GAW111) to <4 dB (GAW346, I.D. 2.0 mm)
- Typical Acoustic Impedance: 45 Rayls MKS (GAW111) to 149,000 Rayls MKS (GAW346)
- Membrane Thickness: 4 microns (GAW337, GAW342) to 240 microns (GAW112)
- Comparative Water Spray Efficiency: 60% (GAW111) to 100% (GAW348 through GAW346)
- Support Ring Material / Adhesive: PET / Acrylic (all standard parts)
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Acoustic & Protection Performance by Grade
| Property | GAW111 | GAW112 | GAW350 | GAW348 | GAW333 | GAW337 | GAW334 | GAW342 | GAW344 | GAW346 | Test Method |
| Application | Dust & Splash | Dust & Splash | Dust & Splash | Shallow Immersion | Shallow Immersion | Shallow Immersion | Shallow Immersion | Shallow Immersion | Deep Immersion | Deep Immersion | — |
| IP Rating | IP4X | IP6X | IP64 | IP67 (1 m @ 30 min) | IP68 (2 m @ 60 min) | IP68 (2 m @ 60 min) | IP68 (2 m @ 60 min) | IP68 (5 m @ 30 min) | — | — | IEC 60529 |
| ISO 22810 Rating | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | 50 m water @ 10 min | 100 m water @ 15 min | ISO 22810:2010(E) method 4.3.2 |
| Comparative Water Spray Efficiency | 60% | 75% | 90% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | — |
| Typical Acoustic Impedance (Rayls MKS) | 45 | 105 | 200 | 1,300 | 28,000 | 12,000 | 109,000 | 87,000 | 73,000 | 149,000 | — |
| Typical Insertion Loss @ 1 kHz, I.D. 1.6 mm | <0.1 dB | <0.1 dB | 0.1 dB | 0.4 dB | 1.2 dB | 0.5 dB | 1.4 dB | 0.7 dB | 2.9 dB | — | — |
| Typical Insertion Loss @ 1 kHz, I.D. 2.0 mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | <4 dB | — |
| Delta SNR | 0.3 dB | 0.6 dB | 1.3 dB | 4.2 dB | 3.2 dB | 1.1 dB | 2.9 dB | 1.6 dB | 5.4 dB | 13.2 dB | — |
| Typical Membrane Thickness (microns) | 200 | 240 | 60 | 17 | 10 | 4 | 6 | 4 | 10 | 33 | — |
| Membrane Characteristic | Oleophobic | Hydrophobic | Oleophobic | Oleophobic | Oleophobic | Oleophobic | Oleophobic | Oleophobic | Oleophobic | Oleophobic | — |
| Membrane Color | Dark gray | Dark gray | White | White | White | White | Black | Black | White | White | — |
| Membrane Type | Cellulose/PET-Nonwoven | ePTFE laminated to PET-Woven | ePTFE | ePTFE | ePTFE | ePTFE | ePTFE | ePTFE | ePTFE | ePTFE | — |
Standard Part Dimensions — Reference Thickness by Grade Series
| Inner Diameter (mm) | Outer Diameter (mm) | Reference Thickness (mm) | GAW112 | GAW333 | GAW334 | GAW337 | GAW342 | GAW344 | GAW346 | GAW348 | GAW350 | Test Method |
| 1.0 | 2.6 | 0.23 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | GAW3481.02.6 | — | — |
| 1.0 | 2.6 | 0.25 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | GAW3501.02.6 | — |
| 1.4 | 3.0 | 0.36 | — | — | — | GAW3371.43.0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1.4 | 3.0 | 0.31 | — | — | — | — | GAW3421.43.0 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1.6 | 3.2 | 0.23 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | GAW3481.63.2 | — | — |
| 1.6 | 3.2 | 0.25 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | GAW3501.63.2 | — |
| 1.6 | 3.2 | 0.31 | — | GAW3331.63.2 | GAW3341.63.2 | — | GAW3421.63.2 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1.6 | 3.8 | 0.31 | — | — | — | — | — | GAW3441.63.8 | — | — | — | — |
| 2.0 | 3.6 | 0.23 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | GAW3482.03.6 | — | — |
| 2.0 | 3.6 | 0.25 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | GAW3502.03.6 | — |
| 2.0 | 3.6 | 0.31 | — | GAW3332.03.6 | GAW3342.03.6 | — | GAW3422.03.6 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2.0 | 4.2 | 0.31 | — | — | — | — | — | GAW3442.04.2 | — | — | — | — |
| 2.0 | 4.2 | 0.40 | — | — | — | — | — | — | GAW3462.04.2 | — | — | — |
| 2.4 | 5.0 | 0.31 | — | — | GAW3342.45.0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 3.0 | 6.0 | 0.31 | — | — | GAW3343.06.0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 3.0 | 8.0 | 0.24 | GAW1120308 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 4.0 | 8.0 | 0.31 | — | — | GAW3344.08.0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 5.0 | 9.4 | 0.31 | — | — | GAW3345.09.4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 5.0 | 9.4 | 0.24 | GAW1120509 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 6.4 | 12.7 | 0.24 | GAW1120613 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 9.0 | 19.0 | 0.24 | GAW1120919 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 12.7 | 25.4 | 0.24 | GAW1121325 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 20.0 | 29.0 | 0.24 | GAW1122029 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2×2 | 4×4 | 0.31 | — | — | GAW3342.04.0R | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Note: Reference thickness is the nominal aggregate thickness of all layers (adhesive/membrane/support material) of the finished part. Actual thickness may vary due to construction and compressibility of materials.
Construction — All Standard Parts
| Property | Value | Test Method |
| Support ring material | PET | — |
| Adhesive type | Acrylic | — |
| Vent construction layers | ePTFE membrane, adhesive, PET support ring, woven mesh (select grades), release liner | — |
Compliance
- RoHS Directive 2011/65/EU — Meets threshold requirements (all standard parts)
- IEC 60529 — IP rating test standard (GAW112 through GAW342)
- ISO 22810:2010(E) test method 4.3.2 — Water resistance to overpressure (GAW344, GAW346)
- Microphone port protection in smartphones requiring IP67 or IP68 immersion ratings
- Speaker and receiver aperture sealing in wearables and hearables exposed to splash or sweat
- Acoustic vent integration in smartwatches and fitness trackers requiring deep immersion protection to 50–100 meters
- Dust and particle exclusion at transducer openings in tablets and portable audio devices
- Pressure equalization venting in sealed portable electronics exposed to outdoor environmental conditions
Common industries: Consumer electronics, mobile devices, wearables, hearables, portable audio.
GORE® Acoustic Vents for Mobile Electronics are pressure-sensitive adhesive-mounted vent components used in smartphones, wearables, hearables, and other portable electronics requiring both environmental ingress protection and acoustic performance.
The portfolio is organized by immersion depth requirement: GAW111 and GAW112 address dust and splash environments (IP4X and IP6X); GAW350 and GAW348 address shallow immersion to IP67; GAW333, GAW334, GAW337, and GAW342 address IP68 immersion to 2–5 meters; and GAW344 and GAW346 address deep immersion to 50 and 100 meters respectively under ISO 22810.
Each grade balances acoustic insertion loss against immersion protection — higher protection grades carry higher acoustic impedance and greater insertion loss. The lightest-protection grades (GAW111, GAW112) use a cellulose/PET nonwoven or ePTFE-laminated-to-PET-woven membrane construction with dark gray coloring and oleophobic or hydrophobic treatment.
Immersion grades (GAW333 through GAW346) use 100% ePTFE membrane construction in white or black, all oleophobic. Vent construction includes an ePTFE membrane, acrylic adhesive, PET support ring, woven mesh (select grades), and release liner. Delta SNR values range from 0.3 dB (GAW111) to 13.2 dB (GAW346).
All standard parts meet the threshold requirements of RoHS Directive 2011/65/EU. Testing is conducted per IEC 60529 (IP ratings) for all grades except GAW111 and GAW112 which follow IEC 60529, and ISO 22810:2010(E) test method 4.3.2 for deep immersion grades GAW344 and GAW346. Compliant with RoHS Directive 2011/65/EU.
How do I select the correct GORE® Acoustic Vent grade for my application?
Grade selection is driven by the required immersion depth and acoustic performance budget. GAW111 and GAW112 suit dust and splash environments (IP4X/IP6X) with insertion loss below 0.1 dB. GAW348 and GAW333/GAW334/GAW337 address IP67 and IP68 shallow immersion requirements with moderate insertion loss. GAW344 and GAW346 are designed for deep immersion applications rated to 50 meters and 100 meters respectively under ISO 22810, where higher acoustic impedance is accepted as a design trade-off.
Why does acoustic impedance matter when selecting an acoustic vent?
Acoustic impedance determines how much resistance the vent introduces to sound transmission. Higher impedance results in greater insertion loss and reduced signal-to-noise ratio (higher Delta SNR), which affects voice clarity and performance of noise cancellation systems. Selecting a grade with the lowest impedance that still meets the required IP or ISO 22810 immersion rating ensures the best balance of protection and audio quality for the application.
What is the immersion protection range across the GORE® Acoustic Vent portfolio?
The portfolio spans IP4X (dust protection, no immersion) through IP68 at 5 meters for 30 minutes (GAW342), and ISO 22810 deep immersion to 50 meters for 10 minutes (GAW344) and 100 meters for 15 minutes (GAW346).
Are GORE® Acoustic Vents for Mobile Electronics suitable for use in regulated product environments?
All standard parts meet the threshold requirements of RoHS Directive 2011/65/EU. IP ratings are tested per IEC 60529; deep immersion grades are tested per ISO 22810:2010(E) method 4.3.2.
How should GORE® Acoustic Vents for Mobile Electronics be specified?
Specify grade (e.g., GAW334), inner diameter, outer diameter, membrane color, required IP or ISO 22810 protection level, transducer type (microphone), and installation method (manual pick-and-place onto adhesive).
