The Environmental Contribution of High-Performance Polyurethane Materials in Automotive Damping Systems
ESG, which stands for Environmental, Social, and Governance, is a management framework designed to measure, promote, and advance sustainable development. Among these core values, Environmental emphasizes reducing carbon emissions and improving resource utilization efficiency. For automobiles and other transportation vehicles, directly reducing energy consumption not only lessens dependence on fossil fuels and electricity but also effectively lowers carbon emissions and air pollution, thereby mitigating the impacts of climate change. To achieve this goal, the industry adopts multiple approaches to optimize energy use, including improving powertrain efficiency and enhancing vehicle structure and design.
Damping systems (shock absorbers, springs, bushings, polyurethane elastomers, and damping materials) are fundamental to the safety, comfort, and durability of automobiles, rail, and aviation vehicles, directly influencing both energy efficiency and the riding experience. Polyurethane elastomers provide significant advantages in damping components, including high mechanical strength, excellent chemical resistance, and superior tailorability. With technological advancements and the growing integration of smart features in vehicles, the benefits of applying polyurethane elastomers in damping systems are becoming increasingly evident.
Johnson Fine Chemical Co., Ltd.’s specialty isocyanate product, HARTDUR 115 (1,5-Naphthalene diisocyanate, NDI, CAS No.3173-72-6), is widely applied in damping systems, such as shock bushings and vibration damper blocks. When vehicles travel on uneven roads, wheel and body oscillations generate unnecessary kinetic vibrations, indirectly increasing energy loss. Compared with PU elastomers based on MDI (Methylene diphenyl diisocyanate), elastomers made from NDI exhibit superior performance under long-term compression and high-frequency vibrations. They effectively dissipate high-frequency vibrations, thereby reducing unnecessary energy dissipation. At the same time, polyurethane damping components last longer than rubber, lowering replacement frequency, which in turn reduces raw material consumption and waste generation, ultimately achieving the sustainable benefits of carbon reduction, energy savings, and improved efficiency.
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