Ultradur^®

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Ultradur^® is BASF’s brand name for its line of partially crystalline, thermoplastic, saturated polyesters derived from polybutylene terephthalate (PBT). They are employed as materials for high-quality technical components in many industry sectors.

Ultradur^® shows its strengths wherever high-quality and above all heavy-duty parts are required – for example in the automotive industry, in the electrics and electronic sectors. The range of applications which benefit from these properties of Ultradur^® in both industry and everyday life is vast. A feature that is particularly important is the low water absorption and thus the fact that the mechanical and electrical properties are largely independent of the moisture content or the climatic surrounding conditions. Particularly for components that are safety-relevant and have to work reliably for the entire lifetime of a component, Ultradur^® is indispensable.

Key Advantages of Ultradur^®

High rigidity and strength
Very good dimensional stability under heat
Low water absorption
Good resistance to many chemicals
Exceptional resistance to weathering
Excellent heat aging behavior

Properties of Ultradur^®

The Ultradur^® grades are polyalkylene terephthalate molding compounds based on polybutylene terephthalate. Ultradur^® is produced by polycondensation of terephthalic acid or dimethyl terephthalate with 1,4-butanediol using special catalysts. Terephthalic acid, dimethyl terephthalate and 1,4-butanediol are obtained from petrochemical feedstocks, such as xylene and acetylene.

The Processing of Ultradur^®

Ultradur^® can be processed by all methods known for thermoplastics. The main methods, however, are injection molding and extrusion. Complex moldings are economically manufactured in large numbers from Ultradur^® by injection molding. The extrusion process is used to produce film, semi-finished products, pipes, profiled parts, sheet and monofilaments. Semi-finished products are for the most part machined further by means of cutting tools to form finished moldings.