Automotive
Tailor-made plastics for a long-lasting, solid and weather-resistant automotive exterior
From headlamp housings via door handles to the roof – BASF´s Engineering Plastics and Polyurethanes are the right choice for all exterior applications where the right combination of lightweight, appearance, functionality and design freedom is needed. BASF´s plastics portfolio covers a wide range of materials for the automotive exterior: Elastolit® R and COLO-FAST® R are Polyurethane systems for flat and complex shaped components like glass roofs, body panels and structural components. The Engineering Plastics Ultradur® and Ultramid® as well as the Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU) Elastollan® enable long-lasting components that are UV and weather resistant, withstand high temperatures and show attractive design. Cellasto® improves the noise, vibration and harshness performance of the vehicle and brings the automotive comfort to the next level.
» Applications
Versatile applications for the automotive exterior
Whatever your specific exterior needs are: BASF connects new material developments and services to create system solutions which give your exterior application the distinctive advantage, look, performance and durability.
Lighting systems
Materials used for lighting systems, show an excellent surface as well as fogging behavior. Within its Polybutylene terephthalate portfolio, BASF offers several grades for these purposes: With Ultradur® B 4560 bezels can be directly metallized. Ultradur® HGL IV are premium PBT grades with excellent fogging behavior and demolding properties. Parts made of Ultradur® S4090 G4 can show a textured surface or metallic effects. For structural frames of LED modules, Ultradur® B4040 G10 ist the PBT of choice.
Window encapsulation
The aromatic Elastolit® R 8919 and the aliphatic COLO-FAST® R 8959 are two component RIM-systems for automotive glass encapsulations providing high-quality surfaces with tailored UV- and weather-resistance. Its outstanding resin flowability enables the encapsulation of large glass panes with a high degree of design freedom in shape, thickness and geometry. The perfect adhesion of these systems to treated glass surfaced and inserts (metals and plastics) supports the integration of various functions and the reduction of process steps.
Door parts
For door parts like handles, latches or brackets as well as structural stiffeners and locking mechanisms inside the door, UV-stability and a good, long-lasting surface quality are as important as stiffness and strength. The Ultramid® grade B3GM35 is the material of choice when it comes to UV-stable door handles – painted or unpainted. Ultramid® B3WG6 GIT shows excellent surface quality and is also optimized for high flowability and good paintability.
Mirror parts
For mirror parts like brackets, shells and bases requiring high strength and stiffness, the highly filled PBT grade Ultradur® B4040 G10 is a perfect match. It shows a good surface quality for sliding parts and like Ultramid® B3WG13 HPX and Ultramid® D3WG12 HMG, it can replace metal in these exterior applications.
Body panels
Due to their outstanding flowability, the hard and tough-elastic Elastolit® R as well as the high-strength Elastolit® K systems, tailor-made to produce body panels via the RRIM process, permit even the most challenging designs. The components pair their superlative quality with low weight. They can be readily painted thanks to their Class A surface. Their excellent price/performance ratio contributes significantly to the success of small-series components in cars and commercial vehicles.
Roofs
For roof frames and roofracks accurate shaping is as important as very good UV-stability, superior surface finish, dimensional stability and high stiffness. To meet these requirements BASF offers Ultradur® S4090 G4 and Ultradur® B4040 with different glass fiber contents characterized by a good flowability. There are optimized grades for visible or non-visible sunroof frames, covers as well as for wind deflectors.
Detailed material information for car exterior solutions
» Polyurethanes
Our versatile PU systems for the automotive exterior
With their versatile properties and unlimited applications possibilities, our PU systems can make the automotive exterior safer, lighter and more robust. BASF Polyurethanes can be adjusted to many different densities, they can be flexible or stiff and they are resistant to hot and cold temperatures.
Elastolit® R and Colo-Fast® R – Reaction injection molding (RIM) systems
Elastoflex® E and Elastolit® D – Semi-structural foams
Elastollan® – Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU)
» Engineering Plastics
Engineering Plastics for the automotive exterior
The engineering plastics Ultramid® and Ultradur® combine strength and stiffness with good UV-stability, resistance to agressive media and good surface quality especially for different kinds of attached parts and their special requirements.
