L&L Products Solutions for Lightweighting Automotive Chassis Components Featured in May 2023 Issue of CompositesWorld

CompositesWorld is the source for reliable news and information on what's happening in fiber-reinforced composites manufacturing for aerospace, automotive, wind energy, marine, industrial, construction, and infrastructure applications. Each month, CompositesWorld publishes a digital newsletter featuring trending topics. For example, the May 2023 issue features automotive chassis components that reduce mass and increase functionality on electric and conventional passenger vehicles with an article that highlights the chassis components on vehicles that replaced all-metal structures for less weight, lower tooling costs, and reduced NVH. The article was written by CompositesWorld author, Peggy Malnati. Three of the highlighted applications showcase L&L Products' solutions that make products lighter, stronger, and quieter.

The three applications noted include:

1. Composite engine stabilizer bracket (CESB) on the 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer SUV from Stellantis. The CESB is the first injection molded bracket used to deck the engine mounts to the body and reinforce them. It's also said to be a new use for thermoplastic polyesters. The CESB brings a mass reduction of 30% and improved NVH.
2. Composite tunnel reinforcement positioned above the exhaust system on 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee and Grand Cherokee L SUVs. L&L Products developed the pultruded insert, L&L's CCS, using a new resin system from BASF that — when coupled with continuous fiberglass — has a strength-to-weight ratio three to four times higher than either steel or aluminum.
3. Structural cross-member to protect occupants and the battery packs on Ford's all-electric F-150 Lightning model. The new crossmember design included L&L's Continuous Composites Systems™ (CCS™) and Composite Body Solutions™ (CBS™) and is the first developed closed-section tubular CCS™ part, the first CCS™ body-in-white application, and the first use of CCS™ in an electric vehicle.​

The noted solutions from L&L Products include:

• Continuous Composite Systems (CCS): L&L’s CCS™ combines highly engineered sealants and adhesives with a fiber-reinforced composite carrier in a two-dimensional profile. This two-dimensional part is designed to provide strength, stiffness, and rigidity to a lightweight structure. For more information, visit https://ccs.llproducts.com.
• Composite Body Solutions (CBS): L&L’ CBS™ technologies combine highly engineered heat activated structural adhesive material (also known as structural foams) with a customized thermoplastic carrier. CBS™ enables lightweight, yet strong structural applications. For more information, visit https://cbs.llproducts.com.

All three applications were in partnership with BASF.

For more information on the applications noted in the May 2023 CompositesWorld issue, please contact Andrea Smith at [email protected]. To read the full article, visit the CompositesWorld website.