Trelleborg, Celanese develop recyclable vehicle suspension unit

Trelleborg, Sweden - A new jounce bumper solution from Trelleborg and Celanese conforms to the sustainability and circularity requirements the automotive industry needs to meet regulatory and consumer demands.

The Hytrel thermoplastic elastomer suspension component can integrate up to four parts into one, making it both durable and recyclable at the end of a vehicle’s life.

“During the past year we’ve seen increasing numbers of our customers come to us to see if we have new solutions to help them be more sustainable,” said Thomas Leblois, who heads up the Trelleborg boots operation.

According to the Trelleborg official, an area of the car that is now subject to manufacturers’ sustainability ambitions is suspension.

Jounce bumpers are components within the suspension system that absorb impact and dampen noise and vibration.

They prevent metal shock absorber springs from fully compacting during impacts caused by potholes, or sharp manoeuvres, thereby preventing damage to the car.

Jounce bumpers are usually made up of crosslinked polyurethane foam, Trelleborg explained in a 15 Jan statement.

But the new solution from Trelleborg and Celanese uses a blow-moulded, hollow Hytrel thermoplastic elastomer.

The product does not require a separate base cup or ring and has integrated dust protection, Trelleborg added.

It has a snap-fit assembly for greater durability and eliminates contact with the strut, so there is no added friction, abrasion, or noise, Trelleborg added.

In tests, the product has shown to perform with greater consistency over temperatures ranging from -40°C to +140°C, while retaining its compression.

Trelleborg claims vehicle comfort, safety and handling remains “just the same” as traditional jounce bumpers.

Celanese developed the material and designs and holds a patent for the technology.

Trelleborg has the expertise and machinery to manufacture the parts at scale.

Finding brands to adopt the new technology will be the next challenge, according to Leblois.

Though eager to find new solutions, the industry is generally risk averse and conservative when it comes to the adoption of new products, Leblois added.

“Convincing OEMs to move to a new technology is always challenging, but as soon as you open the door the rest of the industry tends to follow,” he said.

With sustainability demands “now so serious”, Leblois said he was confident that the new technology would find adopters.