GORE® Protective Vents — Weldable Membrane Vents
GORE® Protective Vents Weldable Membrane Vents are black, hydrophobic and oleophobic ePTFE membrane vent components packaged in roll format for automated heat seal or ultrasonic weld installation directly into polymer enclosures. Available in three sizes — VC70008-1 (Ø 7.6 mm, 100 ml/min), VE0001SLR (Ø 10.0 mm, 185 ml/min), and VE0003AML (Ø 11.9 mm, 270 ml/min) — all three share identical IP ratings (IP65, IP66, IP67, IP68 at 2 m for 1 hr), water entry pressure (> 0.6 bar for 60 seconds), flammability (UL94-V0), and UV resistance (UL f2). Typical airflow at Δp = 70 mbar ranges from 100 to 270 ml/min (values adjusted for the loss of 1 mm for the welding area). Temperature resistance is -40 °C to 125 °C for all three parts.
Weldable vents are suited to very high quantity applications where space is limited, a high IP rating is required, or shock and vibration requirements are high. They can only be used with enclosures constructed of polymer materials. Parts are supplied on roll stock: 5,000 pieces per roll for VC70008-1 and VE0003AML; 10,000 pieces per roll for VE0001SLR. W. L. Gore & Associates declares that no restricted substances listed in RoHS Directive 2011/65/EU are intentionally added. Manufactured under ISO 9001 quality management system.
Key Properties
- Typical Airflow Range (Δp = 70 mbar): 100 ml/min (VC70008-1) to 270 ml/min (VE0003AML) — adjusted for 1 mm welding area loss
- Water Entry Pressure: > 0.6 bar for 60 seconds (all three parts)
- IP Rating: IP65, IP66, IP67, IP68 (2 m for 1 hr) — housing design dependent
- Flammability / UV Resistance: UL94-V0 / UL f2
- Temperature Resistance: -40 °C to 125 °C
- Installation Methods: Heat seal, ultrasonic weld
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- Specifications
- Applications
- General Info
- FAQs
Material Performance
| Property | VC70008-1 | VE0001SLR | VE0003AML | Test Method |
| IP rating (IEC 529, 2nd) | IP65, IP66, IP67, IP68 | IP65, IP66, IP67, IP68 | IP65, IP66, IP67, IP68 | Housing design dependent; tested with VE70919 |
| IP68 extended immersion | 2 m for 1 hr | 2 m for 1 hr | 2 m for 1 hr | Tested with VE70919 |
| Water entry pressure | > 0.6 bar for 60 seconds | > 0.6 bar for 60 seconds | > 0.6 bar for 60 seconds | — |
| Typical airflow (Δp = 70 mbar) | 100 ml/min | 185 ml/min | 270 ml/min | Values adjusted for loss of 1 mm for welding area |
| UL rating / flammability | UL94-V0 | UL94-V0 | UL94-V0 | — |
| UV resistance | UL f2 | UL f2 | UL f2 | In accordance with UL746C |
| Temperature resistance | -40 °C to 125 °C | -40 °C to 125 °C | -40 °C to 125 °C | — |
Product Characteristics
| Property | VC70008-1 | VE0001SLR | VE0003AML | Test Method |
| Membrane type | ePTFE | ePTFE | ePTFE | — |
| Membrane characteristics | Hydrophobic & oleophobic | Hydrophobic & oleophobic | Hydrophobic & oleophobic | — |
| Membrane color | Black | Black | Black | — |
| Size (diameter) | Ø 7.6 mm | Ø 10.0 mm | Ø 11.9 mm | — |
| Installation methods | Heat seal, ultrasonic weld | Heat seal, ultrasonic weld | Heat seal, ultrasonic weld | — |
| Part quantity (pieces per roll) | 5,000 pcs | 10,000 pcs | 5,000 pcs | — |
Design Dimensions
| Property | VC70008-1 | VE0001SLR | VE0003AML | Test Method |
| Diameter (D) | Ø 7.6 ± 0.20 mm | Ø 10.0 ± 0.20 mm | Ø 11.9 ± 0.20 mm | — |
| Pitch / center-to-center (a) | 10.72 mm | 12.96 mm | 14.82 mm | — |
| Weld width (b) | 3.00 mm | 2.00 mm | 2.50 mm | — |
| Carrier web width (c) | 13.60 mm | 14.00 mm | 16.90 mm | — |
| Membrane reference thickness | 0.19 mm | 0.19 mm | 0.19 mm | — |
Environmental Testing
| Test | Method | Conditions / Notes |
| Salt Spray | DIN 50021-SS: 1988-06 | 7-day test; no salt crystal penetration through membrane (tested with VE70919) |
| Salt Spray (extended) | GR-487-CORE, Sect. 3.34.1, Req. R3-203 per ASTM B117 | 30-day test; no salt crystal penetration through membrane (tested with VE70919) |
| Temperature Resistance | — | -40 °C to 125 °C |
Compliance
- RoHS Directive 2011/65/EU — No restricted substances intentionally added
- IEC 60529 — IP65, IP66, IP67, IP68 ingress protection
- UL94-V0 — Flammability
- UL f2 — UV resistance (per UL746C)
- ISO 9001 — Manufacturing quality management system
- Automated heat-seal or ultrasonic weld vent integration in high-volume polymer enclosure production lines where space is limited and protrusion-free installation is required
- Pressure equalization and ingress protection in sealed polymer enclosures subject to high shock and vibration loading where permanent welded bonding is preferred over adhesive or snap-in attachment
- IP65–IP68 venting in compact electronics enclosures where enclosure wall geometry constrains vent footprint to 7.6–11.9 mm diameter
- Low-profile venting in enclosures requiring flush exterior surfaces — telecommunications, industrial metering, and outdoor electronic device housings
- High-quantity production venting for consumer and industrial electronics where roll format automation and consistent weld bond quality are required
Common industries: Telecommunications, industrial electronics, outdoor enclosures, consumer electronics, high-volume polymer enclosure manufacturing.
GORE® Protective Vents Weldable Membrane Vents provide pressure equalization and ingress protection in sealed polymer enclosures where a welded vent solution is preferred over adhesive or snap-in formats. Welded integration is typically selected for very high-volume production applications where enclosure space is limited, where a high IP rating must be maintained under shock and vibration, or where the permanence of a welded bond is required.
Because the vent is welded directly into the enclosure wall, it achieves a flush, low-profile installation — ideal for enclosures where external protrusion is not acceptable. This installation method is only compatible with polymer enclosure materials.
The three variants differ in diameter and airflow capacity. VC70008-1 (Ø 7.6 mm, 100 ml/min) is the smallest and suits the most space-constrained applications. VE0001SLR (Ø 10.0 mm, 185 ml/min) provides intermediate airflow and is supplied at the highest quantity per roll (10,000 pieces). VE0003AML (Ø 11.9 mm, 270 ml/min) delivers the highest airflow in the series.
All three share a membrane thickness of 0.19 mm (reference), a black membrane color, and are packaged on a low-track web roll format. The vent construction consists of a membrane layer on a low-track web carrier. Dimensional parameters a (pitch/center-to-center), b (weld width), and c (carrier web width) vary by part size.
Salt spray testing has been conducted per DIN 50021-SS: 1988-06 (7-day test) and GR-487-CORE, Section 3.34.1, Req. R3-203 in accordance with ASTM B117 (30-day test), with no penetration of salt crystals through the membrane into the housing confirmed (tested with VE70919). IP ratings are housing design dependent and were tested with VE70919; IP68 extended immersion tested at 2 meters for 1 hour. W. L. Gore & Associates declares that no restricted substances listed in RoHS Directive 2011/65/EU are intentionally added. Manufactured under ISO 9001.
What differentiates the three weldable vent sizes, and how do I choose?
VC70008-1 (Ø 7.6 mm, 100 ml/min) is the most compact option for the tightest space constraints. VE0001SLR (Ø 10.0 mm, 185 ml/min) provides intermediate airflow and the highest quantity per roll (10,000 pieces), making it the most efficient for very high-volume production. VE0003AML (Ø 11.9 mm, 270 ml/min) delivers the highest airflow in the series for enclosures with greater internal volume or faster pressure equalization requirements. All three share identical IP ratings, water entry pressure, flammability, UV resistance, and temperature range, so selection is primarily based on enclosure space, required airflow, and production volume.
Why is a welded installation preferred in certain applications over adhesive or snap-in formats?
Welded integration creates a permanent, mechanically secure bond between the vent membrane and the polymer enclosure wall — important in applications with high shock, vibration, or mechanical stress where adhesive bond integrity could degrade over time. The flush, low-profile result also eliminates external protrusion entirely, which adhesive and snap-in formats cannot match. For very high-volume production, heat seal and ultrasonic weld processes are highly repeatable and compatible with automated roll-fed equipment, reducing per-unit installation time and variability.
What is the temperature resistance range for GORE® Protective Vents Weldable Membrane Vents?
-40 °C to 125 °C for all three parts.
Are GORE® Protective Vents Weldable Membrane Vents suitable for regulated environments?
Yes. All three parts achieve IP65, IP66, IP67, and IP68 (2 m for 1 hr) per IEC 60529, with water entry pressure > 0.6 bar for 60 seconds. Flammability is rated UL94-V0 and UV resistance per UL f2 (UL746C). Salt spray performance has been verified per DIN 50021-SS (7-day) and GR-487-CORE per ASTM B117 (30-day). W. L. Gore & Associates declares that no restricted substances listed in RoHS Directive 2011/65/EU are intentionally added. Manufactured under ISO 9001.
How should GORE® Protective Vents Weldable Membrane Vents be specified?
Specify part number (VC70008-1, VE0001SLR, or VE0003AML), installation method (heat seal or ultrasonic weld), enclosure material (polymer only), required IP rating, required airflow, and roll quantity per packaging configuration. Confirm housing design for IP rating verification, as IP ratings are housing design dependent. Contact your Gore representative for weld process parameters and housing design guidance.
