Against hydrolytic degradation: durable PPAs for components in harsh environments

• Optimized polyphthalamides (PPA) with outstanding hydrolysis resistance, high purity and low electric conductivity
• Ultramid^® Advanced T1000 HR shows stable long-term performance especially in coolant media at elevated temperatures
• Ultramid^® Advanced T1000 EQ with low ion migration for long lasting fuel cell parts (> 25,000 hours)

For durable parts requiring special thermal management, BASF expands its portfolio of Ultramid^® Advanced T1000. The polyphthalamide (PPA) range based on polyamide 6T/6I now also includes optimized grades with high hydrolysis resistance (HR) and high purity (EQ = electronic quality). This addresses the increasing needs of the automotive industry for combustion engines and electric motors with inverters or fuel cells showing a stable, long-term performance at high power output in presence of different cooling media. The new HR and EQ grades are tailored to combine high strength and stiffness at elevated temperatures with excellent creep strength and resistance against cooling media - outperforming standard polyamides and many other PPAs on the market.

The new hydrolysis resistant Ultramid^® Advanced T1300HG7 HR shows high chemical and dimensional stability in contact with many media such as glycol, thermal oil and water at temperatures of 130°C and more. It thus prolongs the service life of automotive parts in the cooling system, e.g. thermostat housings and oil inlets/outlets but also of pumps, valves and fittings in construction applications. In extensive tests the PPA successfully proved that it can withstand a continuous use temperature of 130°C for 1,000 hours, and even 3,000 hours, in a mixture of ethylene glycol and water.

The pure Ultramid^® Advanced T1300EG7 EQ hardly contains any electrically active ingredients, yet still offers excellent resistance to heat ageing in contact with water, hydrogen or high-purity cooling media such as Glysantin^® FC G20. Its thermal stability stretches from - 40°C to 100°C. This makes the PPA especially suited for e-mobility and fuel cell applications e.g. end plates, media distribution parts or humidifiers. These benefit from the PPA’s stable mechanical properties across varying temperatures during the whole lifetime (minimium requirement of 25,000 hours) of the electric vehicle. All BASF EQ grades are subject to special quality standards that cover raw material selection, the production process and the analysis of the halogen content. This leads to the material’s low electric conductivity and low ion/halogen migration into cooling media, thus preventing degradation of the components and finally electric failure in sensitive fuel cell stacks.

“Since we introduced our Ultramid^® Advanced T1000 in 2018, customers have relied on its outstanding property profile: It remains strong, no matter what temperatures or climates it is exposed to, and it is exceptionally resistant to humidity and chemicals”, says Marc Keller from global marketing PPAs at BASF. “With the new HR and EQ grades, we raise the bar even higher: We understand the increasing challenges of thermal management under harsh conditions for PPAs; and we enable our customers to meet these challenges while maintaining performance and safety of their applications.” In addition to the new high-performance HR and EQ grades, for parts that require laser-welding, Ultramid^® Advanced T1000 LT grades can be used which are hydrolysis resistant as well while being laser transparent.

About Ultramid^® Advanced

BASF’s polyphthalamide portfolio is based on the six polymers Ultramid^® Advanced N (PA9T), Ultramid^® Advanced T1000 (PA6T/6I), Ultramid^® Advanced T2000 (PA6T/66), Ultramid^® T KR (PA6T/6), Ultramid^® T6000 (PA66/6T) and Ultramid^® T7000 (PA/PPA). They open the door to the next generation of lightweight, high-performance plastic components in many different sectors including the automotive industry, electronics and electric devices, mechanical engineering and consumer goods. The PPA portfolio is available globally and complemented by BASF’s Ultrasim^® simulation tool and extensive experience in application development. It includes more than 50 compounded grades for injection molding and extrusion, products with or without flame retardants. The compounds are available in different colors, from colorless to laser-markable black, with short-glass or mineral fiber reinforcement, and with various heat stabilizers.

More information: www.ppa.basf.com and www.ultramid-advanced-t1000.basf.com

About BASF’s Performance Materials division

BASF’s Performance Materials division leads the transformation of the plastics industry by merging sustainability with a competitive edge. Our broad material competencies and product portfolio, backed by deep industry understanding, make us the ideal one-stop-shop. With dedicated material-focused teams and strong R&D power, we deliver industry-leading technologies and expertise to our customers worldwide. Our global network ensures a competitive advantage through superior innovations, regional proximity, and tailor-made solutions that meet local market demands. We are committed to enhancing performance and efficiency across sectors such as automotive, consumer goods, industrial applications, and construction. With BASF, our partners embark on #OurPlasticsJourney towards a more circular and sustainable future. In 2024, the Performance Materials division achieved global sales of €6.8 billion. Join #OurPlasticsJourney on LinkedIn https://on.basf.com/PM_LinkedIn and in our newsletter https://on.basf.com/PM_Newsletter.

Further information at https://www.performance-materials.basf.com.

About BASF

At BASF, we create chemistry for a sustainable future. Our ambition: We want to be the preferred chemical company to enable our customers’ green transformation. We combine economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. Around 112,000 employees in the BASF Group contribute to the success of our customers in nearly all sectors and almost every country in the world. Our portfolio comprises, as core businesses, the segments Chemicals, Materials, Industrial Solutions, and Nutrition & Care; our standalone businesses are bundled in the segments Surface Technologies and Agricultural Solutions. BASF generated sales of €65.3 billion in 2024. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchange in Frankfurt (BAS) and as American Depositary Receipts (BASFY) in the United States. Further information at www.basf.com.

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