DuPont Polymers showcases new automotive jounce bumper

21 October 2012

DuPont Performance Polymers is showcasing a novel automotive jounce bumper component—part of a vehicle’s shock-absorber system designed to absorb impact and dampen noise, vibration and harshness (NVH). DuPont, working with a team from Ossberger, capitalized on the flexibility attributes of DuPont Hytrel thermoplastic elastomer and a unique Ossberger blow-molding technology to simplify the component from four pieces that require subassembly to a single piece. This alone significantly reduced cost, size and improved performance.

The featured jounce bumper is part of a vehicle’s shock-absorber system designed to absorb impact and dampen noise, vibration and harshness (NVH). Click to enlarge.

In developing this component, DuPont worked on design, using non-linear Finite Element Analysis (FEA) techniques and specialist software, as well as processing, including rapid prototyping and laboratory testing at the DuPont European Technical Centre. By using an Ossberger machine, the thickness profile was tightly controlled, facilitating optimum energy-absorbing properties with a maximum compression ratio.

These jounce bumpers made of Hytrel have been tested by automakers on a variety of vehicles over tens of thousands of kilometers. According to an independent vehicle testing institute cited by DuPont: “Jounce Bumpers of Hytrel bring higher comfort and steering feedback, together with better road handling compared to PU (polyurethane) parts. Wheel rebound also is reduced with higher attenuation of low impacts. The front axis roll angle also is reduced.”