Intercooler end caps made with BASF Ultramid® reduce weight by 40% compared to similar metal products
Lightweight materials solutions save energy and help automakers meet China's stringent emission standards
Shanghai, China – July 10, 2018 – Lightweight intercooler end caps made of BASF's high temperature Ultramid® polyamide further enhance engine performance and fuel efficiency.
BASF has teamed up with global automotive supplier Hanon Systems to develop a component that replaces traditional metal end caps and reduces weight by 40%.
Andy Postlethwaite, senior vice president of Asia Pacific for BASF's Specialty Materials Division, said: '75% of fuel consumption is related to body weight, so weight reduction is still critical for today's automakers. We expect to replace metals with composite polymers. Demand will continue to grow. Ultramid in such applications can improve engine performance, reduce production costs, and help automakers meet China's increasingly stringent emission standards.
Due to its excellent long-term heat aging resistance under pressure fluctuation conditions, Hanon Systems has applied it to the intercooler end caps for the first time in the Chinese market. This grade has excellent strength and hardness at high temperatures and improves weld strength. At the same time, it is easy to process and has excellent surface quality. It is also widely used in thermal management systems.