Spring for vehicles in composite materials with graphene

• Grant number: 25/00746-0
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Innovative Research in Small Business - PIPE
• Start date: July 01, 2026
• End date: March 31, 2027
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Transportation Engineering - Vehicles and Control Equipment
• Principal Investigator: Sílvio Luiz Francisco Osorio
• Grantee: Sílvio Luiz Francisco Osorio
• Company: OSORIO E OSORIO ENGENHARIA LTDA
• CNAE: Fabricação de máquinas e equipamentos de uso geral não especificados anteriormente
• Associated scholarship(s): 26/19841-5 - Spring for vehicles in composite materials with graphene, BP.PIPE

Abstract

Currently, the suspension systems of domestic transport vehicles, both heavy and medium- and light-duty, use metal leaf springs, an old concept defined around the 18th century. Despite this, their simplicity and robustness ensure their use to this day. However, despite the modernization of steel today, this material makes the spring heavy and of limited durability, especially in Brazil where road conditions impose greater stress on the suspension of vehicles than in other locations. And with the current demand for sustainability and reduction of ecological impact, the need to reduce the weight of vehicles becomes an important factor in reducing fuel consumption, especially fossil fuels, and increasing the payload capacity to be transported.In this context, this project seeks to offer the market a different value proposition, with a more technologically advanced material and at the same time maintaining a cost appropriate to the product, in order to increase the total durability of the product, reduce the weight of the assembly mounted on the vehicle's suspension, maintain the functional characteristics of the complete system and maintain interchangeability with existing steel products.The product that is the subject of this project will be developed based on an existing product on the market, in order to maintain its interchangeability and functional characteristics, and also through the use of advanced composite materials integrated with graphene, which provides high levels of mechanical and abrasive resistance and durability.The product will be manufactured using current, state-of-the-art methods and processes, with the aim of providing quality and production rates that are compatible with the demands of the domestic automotive market.Finally, a complete series of tests, both in the laboratory and in the field, will provide the product with the necessary reliability and proof of concept so that its industrialization will be the next natural phase in the process of entering the market. (AU)