As car manufacturers focus on reducing carbon emissions, they are also seeking to create the best driving experience possible. The suspension system is essential to ensuring a smooth and enjoyable ride – with reduced noise, vibration and harshness for the driver and passengers.
Our broad portfolio of materials has grades specifically designed to reduced noise, vibration and harshness in suspension parts, while delivering the strength and stiffness required for a reliable solution. Add up to 50% weight reduction over conventional metals, and substantial cost savings on the processing side, and our materials have proven themselves as the materials of choice for metal replacement in suspension systems.
A vehicle’s suspension system directly influences vehicle safety, control, and comfort. Air spring technology will be used on more vehicle suspension systems to provide improved dynamic ride characteristics and optimum height adjustments, along with better driving comfort and safety, especially with higher loads. Plus, suspension systems also provide improved driving efficiency and CO2 footprint reduction across the entire value chain and a reduced total cost and weight.
In the past, air spring manufacturers relied on metal and rubber as primary air spring components, including Polyamide 6 (PA6), Polyamide 66 (PA66), but unfortunately, as with many materials, you can expect to experience supply chain challenges with PA66. The raw materials used to make these materials is dominated by a few global suppliers, which limits supply and increases costs. In addition to supply chain challenges, many of the materials used for air springs are associated with higher costs, inefficiencies, and limited performance and design flexibility.
To overcome all these challenges, DSM engineering Materials provides Akulon® PA66, Akulon® PA6 and Arnitel® TPC for air spring components, helping you meet performance, sustainability and lightweighting requirements.
These advanced material solutions provide:
Akulon® PA6 and Akulon® P66 outperform aluminum in a variety of factors for air suspension components, including processability, application weight, chemical resistance, surface roughness after molding/casting, weldability and total cost.
The unique chemistry of Arnitel® TPC makes it an attractive option because it provides strong, flexible material solutions for boots and bellows within suspension systems. For other components within the system, DSM offers Akulon®, a material solution with hard and soft segments that deliver flexibility, high-temperature resistance, strength and excellent processing characteristics. These features make Akulon® PA66 and Akulon® PA6 ideal for suspension components, including pistons, piston pots, contour shells, winding rings and caps, and gaiter pots.
Akulon® is our family of high performance polyamide 6 and polyamide 66 materials, used by customers across the world in applications ranging from automotive, electronics & electrical, to furniture and packaging.
We offer Akulon® grades for injection molding, blow molding and extrusion (including barrier film, stock shapes, convoluted tubes, and mono and multi filament).
In molded parts the material offers an excellent balance of easy design and processing with outstanding mechanical properties over a wide temperature range and in diverse conditions. Meanwhile for extrusion the strength, resilience and easy processing of Akulon® sets the market standards.
Akulon® is our family of high performance polyamide 6 and polyamide 66 materials, used by customers across the world in applications ranging from automotive, electronics & electrical, to furniture and packaging.
We offer Akulon® grades for injection molding, blow molding and extrusion (including barrier film, stock shapes, convoluted tubes, and mono and multi filament).
In molded parts the material offers an excellent balance of easy design and processing with outstanding mechanical properties over a wide temperature range and in diverse conditions. Meanwhile for extrusion the strength, resilience and easy processing of Akulon® sets the market standards.
Akulon® is our family of high performance polyamide 6 and polyamide 66 materials, used by customers across the world in applications ranging from automotive, electronics & electrical, to furniture and packaging.
We offer Akulon® grades for injection molding, blow molding and extrusion (including barrier film, stock shapes, convoluted tubes, and mono and multi filament).
In molded parts the material offers an excellent balance of easy design and processing with outstanding mechanical properties over a wide temperature range and in diverse conditions. Meanwhile for extrusion the strength, resilience and easy processing of Akulon® sets the market standards.
Arnitel® is a high-performance ThermoPlastic Copolyester (TPC) that offers you a unique combination of flexibility, high temperature resistance and strength - plus excellent processing characteristics.
In industries ranging from automotive to E&E, Arnitel® is increasingly being as a lighter, smarter, greener alternative to conventional rubbers – reducing environmental impact and ultimately, system costs.
The product is supported by an experienced and knowledgeable global team continuously working on new ideas and applications, as well as exploring new markets. By listening to your needs and understanding your process and products, we develop solutions that make a real difference.
Arnitel® is a high-performance ThermoPlastic Copolyester (TPC) that offers you a unique combination of flexibility, high temperature resistance and strength - plus excellent processing characteristics.
In industries ranging from automotive to E&E, Arnitel® is increasingly being as a lighter, smarter, greener alternative to conventional rubbers – reducing environmental impact and ultimately, system costs.
The product is supported by an experienced and knowledgeable global team continuously working on new ideas and applications, as well as exploring new markets. By listening to your needs and understanding your process and products, we develop solutions that make a real difference.
Direct and easy access to our broad portfolio of high-performance plastics: request a quote or order a sample. You can also simply ask our suspension experts.
Leave your e-mail address below to start receiving the latest news about plastics, new products and events delivered to your inbox.