BASF's Ultramid selected for new Peugeot 308 sw's structural inserts

08-Oct-08

The new Peugeot 308 sw will exhibit its bodywork structural inserts manufactured using BASF's Ultramid® A3WG10 CR, new class of special polyamides which are reinforced with 50% glass fibers for high durability and strength. The structural insert, manufactured by Sika Automotive is installed on the tailgate hinge of the station wagon and is a hybrid component consisting of a plastic skeleton, two metal tabs and the structural foam SikaReinforcer®, which joins the system to the bodywork. The material was also utilized for the recently introduced torque rod supports which are being made of plastic for the first time and which were developed and manufactured by ContiTech Vibration Control. The structural insert is shaped in a two-component injection-molding process that first creates a high-strength plastic support and then encapsulates it with SikaReinforcer. The elaborate mechanical characterization of these materials is integrated into BASF's Integrative Simulation, thus making it possible to safely develop highly loaded parts directly on the computer. In contrast to similar conventional PA66 types, Ultramid A3WG10 CR shows high chemical resistance and absorbs a great deal of energy, accounts for very high strength and stiffness, even at elevated temperatures thereby perfectly suited for high dynamic loads. Further, it has also been optimized with respect to its crash behavior. BASF and Sika Schweiz have entered a colaboration for the development of structural stiffeners. The two companies are jointly developing components, all the way from the concept and the prototypes to serial production.