The three polyamide brands manufactured by BASF (Ludwigshafen / Germany; www.basf.com) – “Miramid”, “Ultramid” and “Capron” – were on display at the Fakuma exhibition, held from 14-18 October (www.fakuma-messe.de). The company said that many polyamide processors were not aware that the “Capron” brand continues to exist, with many of the products formerly supplied by Honeywell now to found within the “Miramid” and “Ultramid” ranges.

Two new engineering plastics – “Ultradur” B4300G6 HR and B4330G6 HR – were unveiled at the exhibition. The hydrolysis-stabilised PBTs comply with the regulations of the United States Council for Automotive Research (USCAR) and can withstand rigorous flexural stress tests at a humidity of 100% and a temperature of 110°C (230°F).

BASF’s “Ultrason” KR 4113, a PESU (polyether sulfone) reinforced with carbon fibres, graphite and PTFE, has been employed by SHW Automotive (Aalen-Wasseralfingen / Germany; www.shw.de) in what is claimed to be the first oil pump that regulates the oil flow on an as-needed basis by means of an external gear pump with involute gears. The high performance polymer was specified as one of the pump’s two gears moves axially and was feasible only with a plastic that is resistant to high temperatures and oil with very good sliding-friction properties. The pump is used by PSA, BMW and Porsche.

BASF company Elastogran described tailor-made customer solutions and innovative applications using “Elastollan”, a thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer (PUR). Applications for the material include the manufacture of hoses, films and automotive parts and extend from the electrotechnical sector to agriculture.