BASF Ultramid® A3U42G6
Plastic Granules
ULTRAMID A3U42G6 Halogen-Free Flame Retardant
Ultramid® A3U42G6 is BASF’s 30% glass fiber reinforced PA66/6. It is halogen-free flame retardant, rated UL 94 V-0 at 0.40 mm and 5VA at 1.5 mm. CTI reaches 600 V. HDT/A hits 230 °C. Tensile modulus is 10,800 MPa. It is light colorable and EN 45545-2 HL3 certified for demanding E&E and rail parts.
Typical property data
Physical Properties
- Polymer Abbreviation: PA66-GF30 FR(40)
- Density: 1440 kg/m³ (ISO 1183)
- Bulk Density (granules): approx. 0.7 g/cm³
- Water Absorption, saturation in water at 23 °C: 4.8 – 5.2 % (similar to ISO 62)
- Moisture Absorption, equilibrium 23 °C / 50 % r.h.: 1.6 – 1.9 % (similar to ISO 62)
Mechanical Properties
- Tensile Modulus: 10,800 / 7,400 MPa (ISO 527-1/-2)
- Stress at Break: 130 / 90 MPa (ISO 527-1/-2)
- Strain at Break: 3 / 4.5 % (ISO 527-1/-2)
- Flexural Modulus: 10,500 / 7,200 MPa (ISO 178)
- Flexural Strength: 210 / 140 MPa (ISO 178)
- Charpy Unnotched Impact Strength, 23 °C: 60 / 65 kJ/m² (ISO 179/1eU)
- Charpy Unnotched Impact Strength, −30 °C: 55 / 60 kJ/m² (ISO 179/1eU)
- Charpy Notched Impact Strength, 23 °C: 8 / 11 kJ/m² (ISO 179/1eA)
- Charpy Notched Impact Strength, −30 °C: 7 / 7 kJ/m² (ISO 179/1eA)
Thermal Properties
- Melting Temperature (DSC): 260 °C (ISO 11357-1/-3)
- Deflection Temperature under Load, 1.8 MPa (HDT A): 230 °C (ISO 75-1/-2)
- Deflection Temperature under Load, 0.45 MPa (HDT B): 250 °C (ISO 75-1/-2)
- RTI — long-term (20,000 h, 50 % tensile strength retention): 140 °C (IEC 60216)
- RTI — long-term (5,000 h, 50 % tensile strength retention): 166 °C (IEC 60216)
- Coefficient of Linear Thermal Expansion, 23–55 °C (parallel): 22 × 10⁻⁶ /K (ISO 11359-1/-2)
- Coefficient of Linear Thermal Expansion, 23–55 °C (normal): 79 × 10⁻⁶ /K (ISO 11359-1/-2)
- UL RTI Electrical: 140–150 °C (UL 746B)
- UL RTI Mechanical with Impact: 115–125 °C (UL 746B)
- UL RTI Mechanical without Impact (Strength): 130–140 °C (UL 746B)
Electrical Properties
- Relative Permittivity (1 MHz): 3.9 / 4.1 (IEC 62631-2-1)
- Dissipation Factor (1 MHz): 150 / 290 × 10⁻⁴ (IEC 62631-2-1)
- Volume Resistivity: 1 × 10¹¹ / 1 × 10⁹ Ω·m (IEC 62631-3-1)
- Surface Resistivity: — / 1 × 10¹³ Ω (IEC 62631-3-2)
- Comparative Tracking Index (CTI), Solution A: 600 V (IEC 60112)
- Electric Strength K20/K20 (60×60×1 mm³): 38 / 30 kV/mm (IEC 60243-1)
- UL Dielectric Strength: 9 kV/mm (UL 746A)
- UL Inclined Plane Tracking (IPT): 1 kV (UL 746A)
Flame Characteristics
- UL 94 Flammability @ 0.40 mm (ALL colors): V-0 (IEC 60695-11-10 / -11-20)
- UL 94 Flammability @ 0.75 mm (ALL colors): V-0 (IEC 60695-11-10 / -11-20)
- UL 94 Flammability @ 1.5 mm (ALL colors): V-0, 5VA (IEC 60695-11-10 / -11-20)
- UL 94 Flammability @ 3.0 mm (ALL colors): V-0, 5VA (IEC 60695-11-10 / -11-20)
- UL 94 Flammability @ 1.6 mm (BK, GY, f1 outdoor): V-0, 5VA (IEC 60695-11-10 / -11-20)
- GWFI (1 mm): 960 °C (IEC 60695-2-12)
- HWI Rating: 0 (highest performance category, UL 746A)
- HAI Rating: 0–2 depending on thickness (UL 746A)
- Halogen Content: Halogen-free flame retardant system
- Railway Fire Safety — Hazard Level (R22 & R23, 1–3 mm): HL3 (EN 45545-2)
Processing Parameters
- Melt Volume Rate, MVR 275 °C / 5 kg: 20 cm³/10 min (ISO 1133)
- Melt Temperature (injection moulding / extrusion): 280 – 300 °C
- Mould Temperature (injection moulding): 80 – 90 °C
- Moulding Shrinkage, model housing 1.5 mm: 0.4 %
- Moulding Shrinkage (parallel): 0.30 % (ISO 294-4)
- Moulding Shrinkage (normal): 0.90 % (ISO 294-4)
- Pre-drying: Recommended per BASF guidelines; closed conveyor loading preferred
Use & Applications
- For E&E and rail parts