German chemicals firm BASF is now globally offering its PA6.10 in a version for monofilament applications. Ultramid S Balance is partly based on renewable resources and is available in various viscosities. The biobased sebacic acid, which is used to produce Ultramid S Balance, originates from the castor oil plant. In compounded and glass fibre-reinforced versions, BASF has already introduced the material in different commercial applications, e.g. in a design lamp or automotive quick connectors.

"The demand for biobased raw materials is increasing worldwide", says Hermann Althoff, Senior Vice President of the Global Polyamide and Intermediates Business Unit. “The introduction of Ultramid S Balance for monofilament applications is another contribution of BASF to support this trend."

Polyamide 6.10 offers unique mechanical properties such as higher dimensional stability and softness compared to polyamide 6 or polyamide 6.6. Many of the benefits arise from less moisture absorption and higher carbon content. Due to its specific properties, Ultramid S Balance can be used in various monofilament applications, e.g. filters for paper machine clothing or industrial brushes, as well as textile fibres and different engineering plastic applications.

BASF operates Ultramid polymerisation plants in Ludwigshafen, Germany; Antwerp, Belgium; Freeport, US, and São Paulo, Brazil. The production of polyamide for film, textile and carpet fibre as well as for engineering plastics applications is integrated into BASF’s global Verbund structure with polyamide intermediates (i.e. adipic acid, anolon, caprolactam), chemical raw materials (i.e. ammonia, cyclohexane, sulfuric acid), energy, by-product recovery, logistics and other services.