Just one year ago, 33% of Americans regularly used AI. Today, that figure is nearing 50% and continues to rise rapidly.
The models are changing rapidly, and while US providers currently dominate the market, emerging providers from Asia and Europe are entering the space, making the AI landscape agile and diverse. Users must therefore consider which model best fits their specific requirements.
For engineers, the main question is entirely different. Regardless of the model or algorithm, every AI request demands enormous computing power. Behind every AI model are thousands of processors across hundreds of server racks housed in data centers.
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Engineers must supply consistent, reliable power to the racks while removing heat from key infrastructure. Data center engineers must consider the following questions:
- How can power supply and distribution be optimized?
- How can cooling and thermal management be enhanced?
- How can reliability be ensured?
- How can systems be protected against fire and thermal runaway?
- How does all this scale?
Seemingly minor components play a crucial role in data center design and function. This article explores how innovative material solutions can support safer, more reliable, and future-ready data centers.
Enhance Power Distribution in Data Centers with Tapes
Data centers are complex systems with thousands of microprocessors at their hearts, beating with an extremely high electric pulse. To keep this pulse running, they need electric energy. So much energy, in fact that supplying and managing it on-site is a critical consideration with no room for failure.
For this reason, many data centers are fitted with on-site power generation and large battery energy storage systems (BESS) to ensure they remain operational during energy shortages or fluctuations. Within these BESS, innovative foams such as the Norseal® TRP Series offer high protection against thermal runaway events and can help prolong battery service life, while Norgard® Tapes provide electrical insulation and protection against elevated temperatures.
Power distribution in data centers extends beyond BESS and power generation. A primary objective is distributing power to servers and microprocessors. To ensure low-loss, safe power distribution, specialty tapes optimize electrical insulation, busbar isolation, wire and cable protection, and EMI shielding for safe, dependable operation.
Beyond enhancing safety, advanced insulation and protection materials help preserve electrical integrity in challenging operating environments. This improves system dependability and extends service life for critical power infrastructure. For data center operators, these advantages translate directly into increased uptime and reduced total cost of ownership.
How Innovative Tapes Can Enhance Thermal Management
Substantial computing power, processor performance, and server density come with a drawback: every watt a processor consumes eventually becomes heat that must be removed effectively to maintain performance, reliability, and operational safety.
Consequently, thermal management has become one of the most crucial engineering challenges in contemporary data centers.
For engineers, maintaining servers and processors at controlled temperatures is essential for server performance, longevity, and safety. Advanced materials can prevent unwanted heat transfer through thermal insulation or facilitate heat dissipation through thermally conductive interfaces. By managing thermal energy where it is generated, these materials contribute to stable operating conditions and help safeguard delicate electronic components.
With extensive experience in EV batteries, Saint-Gobain’s Thermal Gap Fillers, tapes, and coated fabrics have verified performance under demanding conditions. The company’s specially formulated materials deliver exceptional dielectric strength, thermal stability, and long-term reliability under harsh conditions.
While these materials help create ideal operating conditions, their key advantages matter most when excess heat could reach levels that affect other components.
The Foams That Support Reliable Cooling
Modern high-density computing environments have pushed standard air-cooling technologies past their capabilities. Advanced liquid-cooling systems are currently being implemented to eliminate excess heat from servers, processors, and the chips themselves.
Whether the topic is Direct-to-Chip, Door Heat Exchangers, or full Immersion Cooling, sealing is a crucial engineering consideration. Even minor leaks can decrease cooling efficiency, raise energy consumption, and damage sensitive equipment.
Meticulously engineered seals and gaskets enhance performance while protecting against temperature variations, vibration, and challenging cooling media to deliver low-maintenance dependability for long-term service.
Solutions such as Norseal AGP200 offer exceptional conformability, outstanding sealing and gasketing characteristics, and excellent durability. They are also manufactured with bio-based materials to improve indoor air quality, reduce VOCs, and lower the environmental footprint. While most PUR foams utilize oil-based ingredients, Norseal AGP200 utilizes predominantly bio-based polyols without compromising performance.
AGP200 requires just 30% compression to provide a water seal and thermal insulation. It offers exceptional conformability and low compression force, enabling cost savings through material reduction.
By preventing air and liquid leakage, improving thermal insulation, and supporting long-term system dependability, advanced foam solutions help data center operators optimize cooling efficiency, reduce maintenance needs, and maintain uninterrupted operation of critical AI infrastructure.
How Foams and Tapes Can Enhance Fire Protection and Dependability in Data Center Environments
Heat dissipation and enhanced cooling system efficiency are important benefits provided by innovative materials. Tapes with good electrical insulation help prevent arcing and short circuits, common ignition points. High-end, temperature-resistant, dielectric materials improve data center safety.
In emergency situations, high-performance protection materials can help safeguard people, the environment, and delicate components. Flame-retardant materials create a protective barrier that may help prevent fire from spreading or slow the process.
This is what makes multi-functional solutions valuable to today's engineers. The unique combination of excellent performance during normal operation and added safety features during an emergency makes these materials the best option for challenging applications.
The AI Race is Not Only About Algorithms. It is About Infrastructure.
Regardless of the AI model or algorithm, data centers form the foundation of this technology. As AI adoption continues to grow, demand for more and higher-performing data centers is rising quickly.
Interested in Learning More About Data Centers? Download this Brochure
References
PEWresearch - https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2026/06/17/americans-and-ai-2026-chatbots-smart-devices-and-views-on-impact/
Acknowledgments
Produced from materials originally authored by Alexander Dewald.
This information has been sourced, reviewed, and adapted from materials provided by Saint-Gobain Tape Solutions.
For more information on this source, please visit Saint-Gobain Tape Solutions.