Research and Application of New Materials in the Semi-trailer Field

Established in August 2008, Shandong Zonxin Auto Parts Co., Ltd. is a national high-tech enterprise integrating design, R&D, and precision manufacturing. The company's core product portfolio includes truck and trailer air suspensions, mechanical suspensions, disc axles, drum axles, special vehicle axles, and lightweight aluminum alloy semi-trailer chassis. For years, Zonxin has adhered to the development philosophy of being "innovative, technology-driven, and service-oriented," continuously optimizing product design and innovation based on market trends and customer needs, while providing customized solutions.

Zonxin has achieved significant milestones throughout its development:

2011: The Shandong Provincial Technical Innovation Project "Air Suspension + Disc Axle" was successfully launched globally.

2013: Recognized as a "National High-tech Enterprise" for the first time, a title held for four consecutive terms.

2017: The second-generation air suspension was successfully developed, reducing weight by 75kg and receiving the "Shandong Provincial New Product (Technology) Key Promotion" award.

2019: Established the Shandong Provincial Academician Workstation in collaboration with Academician Guo Konghui of the Chinese Academy of Engineering.

2021: Launched the Intelligent Lightweight Special Vehicle Chassis Project.

Currently, the company holds over 50 intellectual property rights, including 6 invention patents, 5 design patents, and more than 40 utility model patents. It has been honored as a "Shandong Provincial Specialized and Sophisticated Enterprise," a "Shandong Provincial Gazelle Enterprise," and a "Jining Key Laboratory."

I. R&D Achievements Over the Past Decade

(A) Suspension Products

Mechanical Suspensions

Product Range: Over 100 varieties, including standard and lightweight series. Key lightweight models include the 78#, 68#, German-style, Japanese-style, F-lightweight, and 66# lightweight suspensions.

Highlight Product: The Lightweight Leaf Spring Maintenance-Free Suspension (Invention Patent) features a three-axle weight of only 310kg. It utilizes Q460MC high-strength steel stamped hangers and "Igus" bushings with high-frequency ground pins, achieving a three-year maintenance-free period.

Air Suspensions

Evolution: The product has evolved from the 2nd generation (220kg/axle in 2017) to the 3rd generation and American-style lightweight versions (145kg/axle in 2020-2023).

Ultra-lightweight Version: Uses Baosteel dual-high steel (high strength & high elongation). The single-axle weight is only 135kg, which is 15kg lighter than the lightest competing products in the market, reaching a domestic leading level.

(B) Axle Products

Aluminum Hubs (High-strength Aluminum Alloy):

Developed in collaboration with Northwestern Polytechnical University using ZL270 ultra-strong aluminum alloy.

Weight Reduction: Drive axle hubs are reduced by 24kg (to 12.8kg), and disc follower axle hubs are reduced by 18.4kg (to 9.8kg).

Performance: Features excellent high-temperature resistance (Yield strength ≥200Mpa at 250℃) and a service life exceeding 1 million kilometers.

External Maintenance-Free Oil-Lubricated Axle:

Features a lightweight design (275kg/unit) with an oil-lubrication structure that reduces wear and heat.

Maintenance Guarantee: Provides a 3-year/500,000km maintenance guarantee using P5 ultra-precision bearings and high-alloy positioning sleeves.

2025 New "Full Mileage Warranty" Axle:

Equipped with bimetal brake drums and high-performance brake pads (containing glass/ceramic fibers and graphite), offering a one-year unlimited mileage warranty.

II. Products Under Development

(A) Ultra-light Maintenance-free Aluminum-Ceramic Disc Axle

Collaboration: Developed with Central South University and Xiangtou New Material using Aluminum-Ceramic (Al-Ti) composite materials.

Innovation: Features the world's first 13T heavy-duty commercial vehicle all-aluminum wheel end.

Weight Reduction: A single axle weighs only 240kg, reducing weight by 90kg compared to conventional configurations.

(B) Aluminum-Ceramic Brake Disc

Material: Silicon carbide particle reinforced aluminum matrix composite.

Advantages: 50.4% weight reduction (16.5kg vs. 33.25kg for cast iron). It offers a service life of ≥600,000km, superior corrosion resistance (72h salt spray test vs. 24h for cast iron), and excellent thermal conductivity.

(C) All-Aluminum Bimetal Brake Drum

Design: Outer layer ZL270, inner layer aluminum-ceramic alloy.

Weight: Only 22kg per unit, compared to 50kg for conventional grey iron drums.

(D) Magnesium Alloy & Steel-Aluminum Hybrid Applications

Magnesium Alloy: Collaborating with Shanghai Jiao Tong University for applications in NEV crash beams, battery frames, and low-altitude aircraft components.

Steel-Aluminum Hybrid Trailer: An 11-meter stake semi-trailer design with a total weight of approximately 4.1T, which is 1.3T lighter than standard lightweight models (5.4T). Key components like longitudinal beams, side beams, and pillars all utilize ZX270 aluminum alloy.

III. Conclusion

With continuous technological innovation, strong R&D capabilities, and high-quality service, Shandong Zonxin Auto Parts Co., Ltd. continues to break barriers in the field of new material semi-trailers. Moving forward, Zonxin will continue to lead the industry trend, contributing to the lightweight, efficient, and intelligent development of the global semi-trailer industry.