Ultramid A3EM8 OP, a grade that BASF has introduced and which is optimised for painting since it offers a class A surface finish and excellent bonding strength. A primer is also not needed with the new Ultramid grade to improve paint bonding.
According to Desmond Long, Vice President, Business Management Transportation, Performance Materials Asia Pacific, “As the painting process is simplified with our new Ultramid A3EM8 OP grade, production costs are reduced. The process also reduces the emission of VOCs from the primer.”
Ultramid A3EM8 OP maintains dimensional stability during the painting process and under diverse driving situations since it is resistant to high heat up to 180°C. The substance also offers the good chemical resistance needed for external car parts. These characteristics have led to its current application on the charging port flap of electric automobiles. The new grade is extremely resistant to a variety of climatic conditions during the course of its service life due to its stiffness and hardness.
“We are looking into applying this grade to additional exterior automotive components. Our customers want to replace more automobile parts with our high-performance polymers because they can be lighter and cheaper than metal. They will have an additional incentive to do so because of the new Ultramid A3EM8 OP grade”, Long continued.