- BASF has transferred proven test methods to hydrolysis storage testing and adopted Arrhenius analysis to reliably predict material service life.
- The glass fiber-reinforced, low-halogen Ultramid® grade can meet application requirements for well over 100,000 hours of service.
With the continuous advancement of eMobility, requirements for the chemical-resistant aging performance of plastics have increased significantly. In particular, the frequent battery charging processes that require constant temperature control have raised the service life demand for plastic components in vehicle engine compartments to 45,000 to 55,000 hours at operating temperatures—compared to just 5,000 hours for conventional combustion engine vehicles. Plastics are widely used in components such as pumps and valves in engine compartments.
Historically, material durability tests were primarily conducted in air-heat environments. Now, BASF has extended its validated test methodologies to hydrolysis storage testing, which simulates aging in water-glycol mixtures. The Arrhenius equation is applied in this process; it describes the relationship between temperature and reaction rate, enabling accurate prediction of service life under normal operating conditions.
BASF launched a series of tests in August 2020 to evaluate a new-generation polyamide material from its portfolio. This Ultramid® grade features optimized hydrolysis resistance, laser markability, glass fiber reinforcement and low halogen content, fully meeting the current and future requirements of the automotive market. Test results demonstrate that after five years of validation, the performance data of the tested polyamide can be extrapolated to over 100,000 hours of service, providing reliable technical assurance for the passenger car and commercial vehicle industries.
About BASF
At BASF, we create chemistry for a sustainable future. Our ambition is to be the preferred chemical partner to enable our customers’ green transformation. We balance economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. The BASF Group has around 112,000 employees who support the success of customers across nearly all industries and in almost every country worldwide. Our core business segments include Chemicals, Materials, Industrial Solutions, and Nutrition & Care; our standalone businesses are grouped under Surface Technologies and Agricultural Solutions. In 2024, BASF achieved sales of €65.3 billion. BASF shares are traded on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (ticker symbol: BAS) and as American Depositary Receipts on U.S. markets (ticker symbol: BASFY). For more information, please visit www.basf.com.
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To meet the growing demands of eMobility, plastics used in engine compartment pumps and valves undergo rigorous testing under hydrolysis conditions (water-glycol mixture). By leveraging the Arrhenius equation, the service life of plastic components—such as Ultramid® polyamide with enhanced hydrolysis resistance, glass fiber reinforcement and low halogen content—can be reliably extrapolated to over 100,000 hours. This ensures compliance with the required service life of 45,000 to 55,000 operating hours for such components.
Photo: BASF
