Composites' high strength-to-weight ratio, fatigue resistance and natural frequency qualities make them an excellent choice for leaf spring applications. A composite leaf spring can be up to five times more durable than a steel spring. Huntsman's composite solutions offer industry-leading performance as we work closely with customers to optimize production processes.
ARALDITE® composite solutions provide high thermomechanical performance in applications requiring high fatigue resistance. They deliver excellent dynamic load properties, and offer optimized latency and cure speed.
Softening point:
150°C
Preforming cycle:
20 s at 180°C
Suitable for:
Non-reactive binder for highly efficient mass-production of powdered fabrics and preforms. High softening point prevents ply-to-ply adhesion during storage and fiber distortion at injection temperatures up to 120°C.
Softening point:
85°C
Preforming cycle:
120 s at 140°C or 60 s at 160°C
Suitable for:
Reactive binder offering very high preform stability, even for injection temperatures exceeding 160°C. Recommended for production of thick preforms, such as for leaf spring manufacture, as well as for parts requiring high aesthetic quality.
Glass transition temperature (Tg):
125°C
Cure time:
5 min at 105°C
Suitable for:
First generation system proven to withstand real-world fatigue loading under severe hot / wet conditions. A cured Tg of 125°C covers most customer leaf spring requirements.
Glass transition temperature (Tg):
140°C
Cure time:
5 min at 105°C
Suitable:
Second generation solution offering a Tg in excess of 140°C without compromising fatigue resistance. Responds to the need for parts that can endure the harshest hot / wet conditions, such as those encountered close to the vehicle engine.
Huntsman specially develops resin systems to meet the most stringent requirements for leaf springs, and our experts draw on their strong experience in RTM and HP-RTM to provide handling and processing guidelines. We also offer kinetic and flow simulations that enable customers to keep processes under control, reduce development times and optimize productivity.
Battery Housing
Our resin systems allow to reduce battery housing designs weight by up to 40%, while meeting all safety, mechanical and thermal requirements.
View Battery HousingBody in White
We offer resin systems optimized for composite body-in-white parts that are superior to aluminum and often even steel concerning strength and stiffness.
View Body in WhiteWheel
Our resin solutions for composite wheels meet the most stringent safety requirements for impact and fatigue resistance, and deliver exceptional color stability and UV resistance.
View WheelLeaf Spring
We offer a range of resin systems for the production of composite leaf springs, that can be up to five times more durable than steel springs.
View Leaf SpringPressure Vessel
Our resin technology meets the stringent requirements of composite hydrogen storage vessels, offering high-impact and chemical resistance.
View Pressure Vessel
Our leading composite expertise, broad product range and unique simulation capabilities can reduce development cycles by up to 50 %.
Composites offer several advantages over steel in leaf spring applications. Internal damping leads to greater energy absorption, and thus to reduced transmission of vibration noise. Composites' far greater durability allows a leaf spring to deliver the same performance with a fraction of the mass, and this can translate to numerous benefits, including lower vehicle weight and greater design flexibility.
Ever since resin systems began to be used in the automotive industry, manufacturers have devoted major R&D efforts to speed up production by improving both the molding processes and the chemistry of the resin systems. Huntsman has been at the forefront of this progress.
For composite leaf springs, impregnation and curing of very thick parts present a particular challenge. Huntsman's ARALDITE® LY 3585 resin / ARADUR® 3831 hardener offers a long injection window, five-minute cure time, and outstanding static and dynamic properties. Parts up to 100 mm thick can be produced with good hot/wet performance and exceptional fatigue resistance.
We support customers developing composite leaf spring technology with state-of-the-art hot/wet fatigue testing and computer simulation capabilities, enabling process optimization from the first leaf spring injection trials through to full qualification and serial production.
