German electrical connectivity specialist Weidmüller uses BASF's polyphthalamide Ultramid Advanced N3U41 G6 to manufacture PCB connectors and terminals in its new Omnimate 4.0 product family. The material is characterised by flexible colouring in RAL shades, including colour-stable orange, blue and green, which is intended to support safe assembly and maintenance of electrical and electronic components. According to BASF, the material also offers high chemical resistance, dimensional stability and very good processability, which is expected to translate into greater robustness and durability of Omnimate 4.0 components. Due to its high heat resistance, BASF's PPA is also suitable for reflow soldering used in the assembly of electrical and electronic components on printed circuit boards. This is intended to address growing demands for automation and cost efficiency in the production of high-performance electronics for drive technology, power supply and energy distribution.
Ultramid Advanced N3U41 G6 enables the production of connectors and PCB terminals in colours tailored to user requirements, and the relevant UL Yellow Cards apply to all colours. This allows flexible response to colour coding requirements used in the electrical and electronics industry during assembly and servicing of components. Andreas Stockheim from BASF's PPA business management said: "We are delighted that we were able to convince Weidmüller both with our high-performance material and with the wide range of available colours. BASF is the leading company in the market offering customers a broad selection of pre-coloured granules for this PA9T and other PPAs. It is also possible to use UL-certified masterbatches for self-colouring."
Material properties and application requirements
Weidmüller's PCB components are designed to transmit power in a compact design and meet high voltage requirements. Thanks to snap-in connection technology, they enable fast, tool-free wiring, which accelerates assembly. Johann Klippenstein, Head of Device Connectors at Weidmüller, said: "Our Omnimate 4.0 product family is ideally suited to fully automated wiring processes. BASF's PPA fits perfectly into this concept, as its mechanical and electrical properties remain at a high level even in small connectors. Combined with the exceptionally broad colour palette, we offer our customers a safe solution that complies with DIN VDE 60335-1 and can be flexibly adapted to new requirements in high-performance electronics." According to BASF, Ultramid Advanced N3U41 G6 is very easy to process. It is said to offer flowability comparable to liquid crystal polymer, LCP, and is supplied in a small-granule form, which facilitates processing on smaller injection moulding machines.
According to BASF, the material meets steadily increasing requirements for PCB components used in power electronics across a growing number of industries. Materials must withstand higher temperatures, provide long-term electrical insulation and maintain dimensional stability even under challenging environmental conditions such as moisture, dust and dirt. The laser-sensitive Ultramid Advanced N3U41 G6 LS with non-halogenated flame retardancy combines high heat resistance with low water absorption and very good electrical properties. The material achieves a high CTI of 600 according to IEC 60112. Thanks to the reduced required creepage distances, it is well suited to the miniaturisation of electrical components. The UL-certified PPA also features a high relative thermal index, RTI, of 150 °C.
Ultramid Advanced portfolio
BASF's polyphthalamide portfolio includes six polymers: Ultramid Advanced N, Ultramid Advanced T1000, Ultramid Advanced T2000, Ultramid T KR, Ultramid T6000 and Ultramid T7000. According to the manufacturer, these materials are intended to open the way to the next generation of lightweight, high-performance plastic components for many sectors, including automotive, electronics and electrical devices, mechanical engineering and consumer goods. The PPA portfolio is available globally and is complemented by the Ultrasim simulation tool and BASF's application development experience.
The portfolio includes more than 50 compounded grades for injection moulding and extrusion, with and without flame retardants. The materials are available in different colours, from colourless to black grades intended for laser marking, with short glass fibre or mineral reinforcement, and with various heat stabilisers.
Thanks to its flexible colouring options, BASF's PPA Ultramid Advanced N3U41 G6 is now used by Weidmüller in its PCB connectors and terminals. Photo: BASF
