MATERIALS | PRODUCT DESIGN


Surface-optimised Ultramid SI from BASF has been used for the fully plastic frame and armrests for the lightweight Aula chair designed by Wilkhahn, offering new aesthetic and functional characteristics


fashion-conscious consumers of electronic devices and to patients who use home medical devices. All grades feature halogen-free flame retardancy to support sustainability efforts.


New opportunities for designers are now possible with a number of new material developments at BASF. For example, speciality polyamide Ultramid Deep Gloss is now available in new colours. The company says that this offers versatile possibilities for car interior design. The material offers resistance to scratching, plus high chemical and good UV resistance. In addition, the high gloss level reproduces structures with faithful detail, allowing a highly contrasting mix of light and shadow – without additional coating. Ultramid Deep Gloss was awarded the German


Innovation Award 2018 in the category Materials and Surfaces. The award is presented by the German Design Council to recognise products from different industries that offer additional benefits compared to previous solutions. BASF says that Ultramid Deep Gloss combines the chemical resistance of semi-crystalline polyamides with the high gloss and depth of amorphous plastics. It is therefore particularly suitable for automotive interior components which are high- gloss and yet demand chemical resistance. Car interior components made of Ultramid Deep Gloss have a high-gloss surface that for the first time does not require an additional protective coating as the gloss surface is achieved with vario-thermal moulding technology. The speciality PA allows designers to realise unusual textures such as ripples, waves, hammer finish, lines and diamonds with a piano-black look, or to structure surfaces with haptic design elements. According to the company, Ultramid Deep Gloss is suitable for components such as air vents and decorative trims,


20 INJECTION WORLD | January/February 2019


inlays in car doors, central consoles or dashboards. The requirements of the automotive industry regarding emissions and odours were also taken into account during the development. New high-performance materials for improving the comfort and safety of autonomous driving are also being developed at BASF. Sensors in the car are important in assisting the driver and are an indispensable part of the development of autonomous driving. These include radar, LiDAR, IR or ultrasonic sensors, which function as lane assistants, collision warning systems and distance control, and assistance with the emergency brake function. Design- ers are using a broad range of BASF products, such as the hydrolysis resistant Ultradur HR polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) and the Ultramid EQ PA for these sensitive electronic applications. The expanded range of Ultradur now includes: Ultradur B4330 G6 HR High Speed, a particularly flowable and


laser markable grade with 30% glass fibre rein- forcement; Ultradur B4330 G10 HR, a highly reinforced grade with 50% glass fibres; and Ultradur B4331 G6 HR, the next generation with optimised processing characteristics. Ultradur B4331 G6 HR is available from now on as uncol- oured grade, in a black laser markable version, and in orange for components in electric cars. Designers of household goods are also benefit-


ting from new materials from BASF. Surface-opti- mised Ultramid SI has been used for the fully plastic frame and armrests for the lightweight Aula chair designed by Wilkhahn, offering new aesthetic and functional characteristics. Employing BASF’s simulation software Ultrasim, the design ensures that every part of the chair frame can be produced from Ultramid SI, meaning a steel core was unnec- essary. This resulted in a new lightweight chair, at only 6 kg or 6.7 kg with armrests. The versatility and performance of Ultrason, BASF’s polyarylsulfone, is also opening up new application possibilities for household appliances, for example. For devices such as deep fryers, Ultrason grades can meet requirements where food safety, temperature resistance and design are successfully combined. Functional solutions made of polycarbonate


from Covestro are being used in the most con- fined spaces for an automotive front module concept in a new design. With vehicle construction under major review, alternative drive technologies such as electric mobility, new forms of connectivity and autonomous driving require totally new car


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