Cellular Special Elastomers - Cellasto Coil Spring Isolation Images courtesy of Elastogran GmbH

Seattle, WA, USA--(Jobwerx)--APRIL 7, 2005--The new assembly design from BASF's Cellasto® microcellular polyurethane (MCU) and Elastollan® thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) businesses is currently used on commercial vehicles. Elastollan TPU and Cellasto MCU create an integrated coil spring isolator and jounce bumper system that is unparalleled in the industry and increases durability by 40 percent.

According to BASF, this innovative assembly design has a significantly greater influence in managing loads and improving ride quality than traditional designs.

Springs and chassis are separated by a special spring isolator so as to keep road-surface-induced vibrations away from the bodywork and passengers. When doing so, the spring isolator must not only prevent noise produced by the spring and spring cup rubbing against each other, but must also effectively dampen spring resonances and energy peaks as well as reducing the introduction of body noise, caused by uneven road surfaces, into the chassis.

According to BASF, the design flexibility afforded by the polyurethane materials' ability to efficiently modify part thickness enables us to produce an assembly that precisely meets the automotive manufacturer's standards for ride comfort. The polyurethane-based assembly also helps prevent 'over-traveling' in the vehicle's high-tech spring design.

Cellasto spring isolators absorb and isolate the bearing pressure of the spring aid and support bearing. They reduce resonance-related energy peaks and at the same time isolate the body noise and helps to reduce stress concentrations within adjacent components (particularly the spring) and, hence, prolong their usable life.

Because of their excellent fatigue strength, Cellasto spring isolators can be far softer than other elastomers used in components subject to pressure loads.

According to BASF, the lower portion of the system is injection molded with Elastollan TPU and is a one-piece, integrated coil spring isolator / jounce contact surface. Using Elastollan TPU in the lower portion improves road isolation as well, while the steel jounce surface and a separate lower isolator are eliminated. The performance attributes of BASF's TPU elastomers, including superior wear and abrasion resistance, excellent low temperature flexibility and toughness, also contribute to the improvement in the ride, handling and durability.

BASF's Cellasto business manufactures molded microcellular polyurethane parts used as automotive suspension, frame and body-mount components, as well as in other noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) applications for automotive chassis. The business is certified under the QS-9000, ISO/TS16949 and RC 14001 quality standards.

BASF's Elastollan TPU business has a long history of successful applications in industries such as automotive, agriculture, consumer products, oil and gas exploration, film and sheet, electronics, wire and cable sheathing, hose and tubing, recreation and footwear.

Haven't found what you're looking for? Try 'Search' powered by : More information on BASF's Cellasto MCU and Elastollan TPU businesses can be found on the Internet at basf.com/polyurethanes