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Ultramid®

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Ultramid® (PA) 

BASF’s Ultramid® grades are molding compounds on the basis of PA6, PA66 and various co-polyamides such as PA66/6. The range also includes PA610 and semi-aromatic polyamides such as PA6T/6, PA6T/66, PA6T/6I and PA9T. 

The molding compounds are available unreinforced, reinforced with glass fibers or minerals and also reinforced with long-glass fibers for special applications. Ultramid® is noted for its high mechanical strength, stiffness and thermal stability. In addition, Ultramid® offers good toughness at low temperatures, favorable sliding friction behavior and can be processed without any problems.

The most important properties of Ultramid®

  • High strength and rigidity
  • Very good impact strength
  • Outstanding resistance to chemicals
  • Low tendency to creep
  • Dimensional stability
  • Simple processing

Ultramid® ‒ versatility in material and application

Because of the manifold and tailor-made characteristics of Ultramid® many applications are possible, especially in automotive construction, electrical engineering and electronics, in household technology, industrial connection, photovoltaics, in construction and installation, furniture, the sanitary industry and in mechanical engineering.

Properties of Ultramid® (PA)

Ultramid® is the trade name for polyamides supplied by BASF for injection molding and extrusion. The product range includes PA6 grades (Ultramid® B), PA66 grades (Ultramid® A), special polyamides like PA610 (Ultramid® S Balance), polyphthalamides such as PA6T/6I (Ultramid® Advanced T1000), PA6T/66 (Ultramid® Advanced T2000), PA9T (Ultramid® Advanced N) or PA6T/6 (Ultramid® TKR), as well as special grades based on copolyamides. Ultramid® A is produced by condensation polymerization of hexamethylene diamine and adipic acid, Ultramid® B by hydrolytic polymerization of caprolactam. These materials are obtained from petrochemical feedstocks such as benzene, cyclohexane and p-xylene. Ultramid® is noted for its high mechanical strength, stiffness and thermal stability.

Focus topic: Plastics for wallbox applications

If you want a relaxed drive with your electric car, you better have a charging station at home. Function and safety are decisive criteria here, but optics and design are also becoming more and more important. In the Wallbox Demonstrator, BASF is showing some plastic materials that are ideally suited for certain application points in a wallbox and that cover the high requirements in the wallbox sector particularly well thanks to their product performance.

Wallbox RSW Teaser

Ultramid® B3GK24 – for mounting brackets, frames and housings

The Ultramid® shows low distortion and offers very high mechanical strength. The material achieves the UL94 HB flame retardant classification.

Ultramid® Deep Gloss – for covers

Ultramid® Vision – for displays

Flame retardant Ultramid® and Ultradur® – for contact carriers, switches, charging guns, charging inputs

Elastollan® – for cables, hoses and wires

Processing of Ultramid®

Ultramid® can be processed by all methods known for thermoplastics. The main methods are injection molding and extrusion. Complex moldings are economically manufactured in large numbers from Ultramid® by injection molding. The extrusion method is used to produce films, semi-finished products, pipes, profiled parts, sheet and monofilaments. Semi-finished products are usually further processed by cutting tools to form finished molded parts.

The Ultramid® product range 

The basis of the Ultramid® grades are polyamides which are supplied in a variety of molecular weights or viscosities, have a range of additives and are reinforced with glass fibers or minerals. More detailed information on the individual products can be found in the Ultramid® product range.

The Ultramid® range comprises the following groups of products:

Ultramid® A

in its unreinforced state, it is an extremely rigid, abrasion-resistant, heat-resistant and hard material. It is one of the preferred materials for parts subject to mechanical and thermal stresses in electrical, mechanical and automotive engineering.

Ultramid® B

in its unreinforced state, it is a tough, hard material affording parts with good damping characteristics and high shock resistance even in dry state and at low temperatures. It is particularly tough and easy to process. Translucent products are also available under the name Ultramid® Vision.

Ultramid® C

is the name given to copolyamides made from PA6 or PA66 monomers that exhibit different melting points or a lower crystallinity according to their composition.

Ultramid® D

are blends of PA6 and PA66 and other polyamides with customized properties, available as unreinforced grades (e.g. Ultramid® Deep Gloss D3K) and reinforced grades (e.g. Ultramid® Endure D3G7 BK20560).

Ultramid® S Balance

is mostly based on natural resources and is particularly resistant to chemicals and is also known for its low moisture absorption. Ultramid® S Balance is preferably used in components that come into contact with media.

Ultramid® T KR

is a polyphthalamide and has the lowest mold temperatures and highest toughness of all PPAs. Like other PPAs, it offers good dimensional stability, high chemical resistance and constant mechanical properties covering a wide range of different applications.

Ultramid® Advanced N

is a polyphthalamide which has lowest water uptake, highest Tg cond., excellent chemical and hydrolysis resistance and a high toughness. Unreinforced materials are suitable for extrusion.

Ultramid® Advanced T1000

is a polyphthalamide which offers the highest strength and stiffness of all Ultramid® grades and stable mechanical properties up to ~120 °C (dry) and 80 °C (cond.). It is resistant against aggressive media and has a low water uptake.

Ultramid® Advanced T2000

is a polyphthalamide providing good E&E performance with a high melting point, excellent flowability, low water absorption, good mechanical properties at high temperatures and good chemical resistance.

Glass-fiber reinforced Ultramid® 

These materials are distinguished by high mechanical strength, hardness, rigidity, thermostability and resistance to hot lubricants and hot water. Parts made from them show dimensional stability and high creep strength. Glass-fiber reinforced Ultramid® T also has extraordinarily high heat resistance (up to 280°C). 

Reinforced and unreinforced grades with flame retardants

The modified Ultramid® grades C3U, A3X2G5, A3X2G7, A3X2G10, B3U50G6, A3U42G6, A3XZC3, B3UG4, B3U30G6 and T KR 4365 G5 are particularly suitable for electrical components with high flame retardance and high tracking resistance.

Mineral- and glass bead-filled Ultramid®

Materials filled with minerals and glass beads show increased rigidity, good dimensional stability, low tendency to warp, optically appealing surfaces, partly excellent ability for metallizing and good flow characteristics.

 

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More Information
All information in one place: From technical articles, case studies and brochures, to data sheets and certificates.
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Successful customer projects
Proven in practice: These case studies demonstrate the successful use of Ultramid® in customer projects.
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BASF's new range of products that are now part of the Ultramid® family

Versatility in material and application
New Ultramid® grades coming from the recent acquisition of the Solvay Polyamide business are supplied in a variety of molecular weights or viscosities and can have a range of additives. This makes Ultramid the ideal material to meet demanding applications in the automotive, construction, consumer electronics, consumer goods industries, as well as various industrial applications. 

Special Ultramid® grades available include:

Please note: BASF will market and sell the former Polyamid products aquired from Solvay outside European Economic Area and Switzerland only. BASF plans to offer these products in the European Economic Area and Switzerland under the Ultramid brand name as of February 2022.

Technical information and datasheets

If you need documents or further information on any of the new Ultramid® grades, please download them here. 


By downloading these data sheets, you acknowledge the current restrictions around these products: BASF does not sell or market the former Solvay Technyl product range, now rebranded under the Ultramid brand name, in the European Economic Area and Switzerland until February 2022. BASF currently sells and markets these products in all other countries.

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Ultramid® A3XZC3 ESD for use in ex-zones
Ultramid® A3XZC3 ESD (ElectroStatic Discharge) is the first material with an excellent combination of flammability properties, mechanical properties and reduced surface resistivity. It is the perfect choice for personal safety equipment and for usage in ex-zones because of a wide range of excellent characteristics like electrostatic discharge, low density and lighter components with the same mechanical performance.
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06769_2021. C 100 Studio Stecker und Granulat orange
Products for high voltage connectors

With the Ultramid® DC grades (Durable Color), BASF is expanding its portfolio of engineering plastics for the eMobility market – even in the flame-retardant sector. High technical requirements from the industry require innovative solutions based on PA66 and PA6. In the case of already proven Ultradur® (PBT) products, color stability can be largely guaranteed, especially in orange (RAL 2003) which is in high demand in the industry. Laser markability is partially possible.

Conventional polyamides, however, tend to strong color fluctuations or yellowing during heat aging. 

Application range

The applications are as manifold as its product properties: Explore the various application possibilities of Ultramid®!

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