Ultramid® Flex F – The new copolyamide for packaging offers completely new properties

April 24, 2017

• Greater transparency, increased softness and improved tear resistance even at low temperatures
• One quarter of the raw materials sourced from rapeseed oil
• The new Ultramid^® will be presented at Interpack 2017 in Düsseldorf

Ultramid^® Flex F38 L is an entirely new and partly bio-based copolyamide. Thanks to its softness and transparency even at low temperatures and low humidity, this polyamide is ideally suited for soft packaging (see chart below).

 

Tear and puncture resistance are also increased in an even softer film.

 

Films made of Ultramid^® Flex F are even soft immediately after processing and without conditioning. This offers huge advantages for film processing at low temperatures and low humidity.

 

Sustainable packaging solutions
A quarter of the raw material used for the monomer is sourced from regionally-grown rapeseed oil. Ultramid^® Flex F38 L supports the trend towards more sustainable packaging solutions. For the packaging industry, the new Ultramid^® Flex F unlocks entirely new opportunities for launching bio-based products onto the market.

 

Enhanced properties open-up new areas of application
With a CO2 and O2 permeability 15 times higher than in conventional polyamide 6, the new Ultramid^® Flex F38 L possess considerably changed barrier properties. For example, Ultramid^® Flex F is ideally suited for use as cheese ripening bags.

 

Thanks to its high flexibility and softness, the new Ultramid^® can also be used to produce soft vacuum and shrink bags. The product also allows for conventional stretching ratios in deep-drawing processes – without any stress whitening.

 

In addition to its use in the food industry, the new Ultramid^® Flex F is the ideal solution for a wide array of technical films that are characterized by sufficient ductility and tear strength even at lower temperatures.

 

Processing
Ultramid^® Flex F38 L has a considerably higher melt stability than conventional polyamides, allowing for an outstanding bubble stability and higher blow-up ratio. These processing properties enable users to optimize the entire film structure.

 

BASF at Interpack 2017 in Düsseldorf
At Interpack 2017 in Düsseldorf from May 4 to 10, 2017, BASF experts will be showcasing a wide range of products and innovations from their packaging portfolio at booth 43 in hall 10, including the new Ultramid^® Flex F38 L.

 

Ultramid products for wide-ranging applications
With more than 60 years of experience, BASF is the leading supplier of high-quality polyamides and polyamide intermediates for the engineering plastics, film, fiber and monofilament industries.

The product portfolio includes Ultramid^® B (polyamide 6), Ultramid^® C (polyamide 6/6.6 copolymer) and Ultramid^® A (polyamide 6.6). The product offerings are supplemented by technical services for our customers.

 

BASF operates Ultramid^® polymerization plants in Ludwigshafen, Germany; Antwerp, Belgium; Freeport, Texas/USA; and Shanghai, China.

Comparison of softness properties of various Ultramid products.

About BASF
At BASF, we create chemistry for a sustainable future. We combine economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. The approximately 114,000 employees in the BASF Group work on contributing to the success of our customers in nearly all sectors and almost every country in the world. Our portfolio is organized into five segments: Chemicals, Performance Products, Functional Materials & Solutions, Agricultural Solutions and Oil & Gas. BASF generated sales of about €58 billion in 2016. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchanges in Frankfurt (BAS), London (BFA) and Zurich (BAS). Further information at www.basf.com.