BASF teams up with L&L Products and Stellantis to successfully deliver the 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L

BASF, L&L Products and Stellantis Group have been recognized for their success in creating a lightweight composite transmission tunnel for the 2021 Jeep® Grand Cherokee
L.
Recently, the car, released in May this year, won the prestigious Altair Enlighten Award for its achievements in vehicle weight reduction
.

To reduce body mass and improve vehicle durability without compromising vehicle safety performance, transmission suspension system (TMS) is a key research direction
.
The Composite Tunnel Reinforcement (CTR) is located on the underbody of the vehicle and is part of the overall drivetrain suspension system
.
For example, when a vehicle collides with an oncoming vehicle slightly, the CTR can transfer the energy load from the outer rail to the transmission suspension beam, thereby improving the vehicle's on-site crash safety performance, and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) standard small Biased rigid barrier test performance
.

The use of Continuous Composite Systems™ (CCS) pultrusion technology and BASF's polyurethane chemistry solutions were key factors in CTR's successful lightweighting
.
CCS combines fiber-reinforced pultruded composite carriers with highly engineered sealants and adhesives in a two-dimensional profile in a continuous process that produces composite straight or curved profiles reinforced with continuous fibers and mats
.
The system is designed to provide strength, stiffness and stiffness to lightweight structures
.

Hank Richardson, Product Design Manager, L&L Products, said: "With the continuous composite system, L&L Products and Stellantis have achieved a new design that reduces part size while also reducing weight
.
The design utilizes the surrounding environment to help transfer shock loads to the CTR.
In addition, we have doubled the output of standard pultruded
grades through technological improvements and achieved an industry first in processing speed
.
”

This is also the first time that L&L Products has used CCS technology in BASF's Elastocoat® 74850 pultrusion polyurethane system
.

Chris Korson, Chassis Segment Manager, Performance Materials, BASF North America, said: “Compared to ultra-high-strength steel, our Elastocoat polyurethane system combines continuous glass fibers with an excellent strength-to-weight ratio in this type of application
.
In addition, We also developed a new computer simulation approach to capture the behavior of pultruded structures using our proprietary CAE modeling software, Ultrasim®, to accurately capture additional loading after composite failure
.
"

Stellantis Chassis Design Manager Brian Dwyer said: "We are always trying to improve the design, functionality and efficiency of our vehicles
.
It's not easy to find a weight reduction solution that improves overall vehicle performance, but with the 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L, We achieved this with a composite drive channel
.
"

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L is a state-of-the-art SUV, engineered inside and out for unrivaled performance and a solid dynamic ride
.
Jeep's famous all-wheel-drive system infuses the Grand Cherokee L with the brand's legendary all-wheel-drive capability
.
The new vehicle architecture, combined with a clean aerodynamic body design, enhances vehicle performance, safety and reliability, while significantly reducing vehicle weight, noise, vibration and bumps
.
The Grand Cherokee L is designed to maximize overall passenger safety, comfort and convenience
.
The model's strong power and next-generation features and technologies set it apart in the full-size SUV segment
.