Extrusion International 1-2020

35 Extrusion International 1/2020 Improved material properties – higher efficiency The BASF Ultradur ® plastic is put to use in numerous industrial applications for high-grade and heavy- duty technical components. This special develop- ment of an Ultradur ® blend reinforced with 55 per- cent glass fibers benefits profile manufacturers and window manufacturers in numerous ways. And the good news for all profilers: the melt tem- perature has been lowered again significantly, thus further simplifying the co-extrusion process with polymers such as PVC, as the melting point is very close to the processing temperature of PVC. “Our new, improved Ultradur grade offers profile manu- facturers and window producers clear-cut advan- tages in production. Our product and the manu- facturing process are amenable to trouble-free integration into existing production lines,” says Dr. Kay Brockmüller, Project Manager Construction at BASF. Ultradur ® – reliable partner with high-level properties The newly developed material also exhibits the existing core properties. Ultradur ® possesses high stiffness and binds with PVC. Suitably positioned, it can replace a conventional steel stiffener in the profile. The co-extruded profile is weldable and can be machined on existing equipment. For win- dow makers, this reduces the production effort, as it eliminates all steel-related activities. In addition, handling is easier during production and installa- tion in the building, because the profile reinforced with Ultradur® is much lighter. A further positive feature for the customer, in addition to improved insulation performance, is that the profile exhibits high dimensional stability when installed and shows virtually no post-shrinkage after installation. At the international “FENSTERBAU FRONTALE” trade show from March 18 to 21, 2020, in Nurem- berg, Germany, the systems provider profine group will present a profile (proStratoTec) suitable for pas- sive houses using this technology, which is also suit- able for colored profiles and window elements. Fit for the future – recycling and new applications There are fixed recycling rates for PVC window pro- files in many countries. Hybrid profiles of PVC and BASF’s new Ultradur ® can be separated and recov- ered at standard recycling facilities. The window manufacturer profine is currently modifying its recy- cling facilities so that the two materials can be sepa- rated and concentrated and used in new profiles. In the future production waste and scrap from part- nering window manufacturers can be reprocessed. The multitalent – further fields of application New Ultradur ® with its proven property profile is also attractive for other industries. Wherever extruded profiles need to be reinforced and a light, extremely rigid or high-insulation product is required, BASF’s technical plastic is the partner of choice. This is par- ticularly important wherever elevated temperatures are involved. Fast track to the ready-to-use die Greiner Extrusion Group in Austria, world-wide re- nowned supplier of extrusion lines, dies and com- plete systems for profile extrusion, already proved competence in manufacturing dies that process this improved product with the desired high fiber orien- tation, running reliability and extrusion speed. BASF Performance Materials 67056 Ludwigshafen, Germany www.basf.com , www.plastics.basf.com Co-extruded pipe made of Ultradur ® (green) and PVC Co-extruded profile made of Ultradur ® (green) and PVC for highly insulating windows