• New partially aromatic polyamides from BASF now globally available
• Combination of properties: constant mechanics up to 100°C, outstanding resistance to chemicals, low water absorption, low friction and wear

 

BASF is expanding its range of partially aromatic polyamides and launching a new polyphthalamide (PPA) portfolio on the market. The portfolio with the name Ultramid® Advanced N comprises unreinforced compounds and compounds reinforced with short or long glass fibers as well as flame-retardant grades. BASF clamis that they exceed the properties of conventional PPA plastics: constant mechanics up to 100°C (glass transition temperature: 125°C), excellent chemical resistance and low water absorption as well as low friction and wear. Ultramid Advanced N enables short cycle times and a wide processing window, says BASF. The new product line is supplemented by detailed material characterization and BASF application development capabilities. BASF offers selected grades for customer projects around the world from now on.

Greater scope for innovations

The new portfolio gives customers from different industries greater freedom for innovations in order to develop technically sophisticated end-consumer products. With Ultramid Advanced N, customers are able to satisfy demands for miniaturization, functional integration and freedom of design, explains BASF. They are also able to comply with energy efficiency and safety parameters – factors that are crucial to market success. According to the resin manufacturer, these high standards for mechanics, chemical resistance and dimensional stability can be met across a wide temperature range with the new BASF PPA. “Ultramid Advanced N is BASF’s response to the rising demands on plastics that are employed today under increasingly challenging operating conditions”, says Dr. Melanie Maas-Brunner, Senior Vice President, Performance Materials Europe. “Developing specialties such as Ultramid Advanced N is inline with our strategy to provide our customers with a broad range of solutions. We are committed to offer a broad PPA portfolio and will further launch high-performance plastics in the coming years.”

Wide range of uses in many industries

BASF says that the use of Ultramid Advanced N allows customers to design lighter, smaller and stronger plastic components for challenging environments where other materials reach their limits. The special properties of the new BASF PPA can be combined to create unique product profiles. The manufacturer claims that the material is able to solve application problems in a wide range of different uses. According to BASF, Ultramid Advanced N is suitable for small connectors and function-integrating housings in white goods, consumer electronics and mobile devices. It can be used in automotive components and structural parts near the engine and the gearbox in contact with hot, aggressive media and different fuels. Applications like gear wheels and other wear parts can be implemented, too, the manufacturer claims. Ultramid Advanced N possesses lead-free soldering properties that find application within the electronics and electrical industry, e.g. to assemble circuit boards using SMD (SMD:surface mounted device) technology. “We will actively approach our customers to understand their specific requirements and offer them solutions based on BASF’s expertise in application development and product know-how,” says Abdullah Shaikh, Head of PPA Business, Performance Materials Europe. “We are looking forward to providing more insight into our portfolio and discuss applications with our customers during the K fair in October 2016.”

Superior mechanics, outstanding flame retardance and more

Rigidity and strength of the new BASF polyphthalamide remain stable up to the high glass transition temperature of 125°C, with very low impact from external influences like changes in humidity, BASF claims. Compared to a corresponding PA66 grade (glass transition temperature: 60°C), Ultramid Advanced N has a broader application range and superior mechanics. The resin manufacturer says that the electrical properties of Ultramid Advanced N are also largely independent of moisture content at room temperature and above – a marked difference compared to aliphatic polyamides. As a result of its high melting point of 300°C and its low water uptake, Ultramid Advanced N is particularly suitable for lead-free soldering: The heat distortion temperature is maintained and the material does not display any blistering. The low water uptake leads to an excellent dimensional stability, BASF explains. In tests, the water and moisture uptake could be reduced by 50% compared to a PA6T. An Ultramid Advanced N grade reinforced with 35% glass fibers only absorbs less than 1% of moisture until saturation.

BASF performed alternating climate tests and reached the conclusion that the flame-retardant grade reinforced with 30% glass fibers is superior to corresponding market PPA grades as far as its tendency to migrate is concerned. It has very good flame-retardant properties (V-0 rating in the UL94 tests at 0.4 mm) and is equipped with a flame retardant which is free of halogen. The material also displays excellent creep resistance, a good surface finish and is laser-markable, according to BASF.

The resin producer says that its Ultramid Advanced N is extraordinarily resistant against chemicals, in particular hot oil, coolants such as Glysantin®, against calcium chloride as well as fuels with a high methanol content. The individual grades are fitted with different heat stabilizers and thus tailor-made for particular requirements of the automotive, electrical and electronics industries.

BASF at K fair from October 19-26, 2016 in Dusseldorf, Germany, in hall 5, booth C21/D21.

Source: BASF