BASF has developed Ultramid Advanced N5H UN, a polyphthalamide (PPA) that can be manufactured into semi-finished parts by extrusion.
GEHR is using the new PPA to produce extruded stock shapes with a diameter of 50 millimetres.
Due to its semi-aromatic chemical structure, Ultramid Advanced N offers excellent mechanics at elevated temperatures.
BASF says it shows excellent resistance to chemicals and hydrolysis, even in aggressive environments, as well as good sliding friction properties – and all this at temperatures above 100°C. Due to its low water uptake its mechanical properties remain stable over a wide temperature range. Even in humid environments, the long-chain high-performance material shows a dimensional stability that belongs to the highest of all polyamides.
The first semi-finished part made of Ultramid® Advanced
The BASF polyphthalamide Ultramid® Advanced N5H UN is used by the plastics company GEHR, Mannheim, Germany to produce extruded stock shapes with a diameter of 50 millimeters. This makes it suitable for extruding pre-fabricated components, small assemblies and parts in the automotive industry and in mechanical engineering.
This property profile makes Ultramid Advanced N a suitable material for extruding pre-fabricated components and small assemblies but also for many applications in the automotive industry, in mechanical engineering and in kitchen appliances. During machining, the behaviour of the semi-finished products lies between a polyamide and a polyoxymethylene copolymer, with steady and consistent chip formation and removal.
“GEHR is the first company to successfully use a PPA for extrusion. With its expertise in extrusion, GEHR has developed stock shapes that can be produced without any voids," said Philipp Wenz, group head in sales of BASF’s Performance Materials division.
“We can't say for certain whether it’s the world’s first semi-finished part made from polyphthalamide. The high-performance material has definitely not yet played an important role in the market for semi-finished parts. One reason for this might be that usual polyphthalamides cannot be extruded very well.”
Thus Ultramid Advanced N5H closes a gap in the market between semi-finished parts made of polyetheretherketones and polyarylsulfones on the one hand and semi-finished products made from engineering plastics on the other hand. In comparison to the latter it can be used at continuous operating temperatures well above 120°C. The BASF material is also suitable for profiles other than rods.
Bernhard Grosskinsky, Head of Application Technology at GEHR, explains: “BASF’s polyphthalamide is far easier to process compared to other PPAs on the market. It gives us a wide processing window with at the same time a high melt stability. The quality of the material always remains the same so that we can maintain a stable production of our semi-finished parts. Last but not least, another advantage of BASF’s PPA: It is easy to produce finished components from the semi-finished products by post-processing.”