German chemical giant BASF (Ludwigshafen; www.basf.com) said it is expanding its “Ultramid Advanced” polyphthalamide (PPA) portfolio with the addition of carbon fibre-reinforced (CF) grades. The new materials are based on the properties of “Ultramid Advanced N”, the company said. Available grades are differentiated by choice of carbon fibre and its portion in the material, namely 20%, 30% or 40%.

The materials are said to provide outstanding mechanical properties and can replace aluminium and magnesium in structural automotive applications, ultra-lightweight components for consumer electronics and in industrial applications such as compressors and pumps. Compared to aluminium or magnesium, “Ultramid Advanced CF” reportedly delivers weight reduction of up to 30%, high dimensional stability, excellent chemical and hydrolysis resistance, and high strength and modulus when compared to competing reinforced PPA materials. The materials are also said to show lower weight and higher tensile modulus compared to glass-fibre filled polyamides reinforced at a similar level.