Engineering plastics from Ultramid ® Family (PA), BASF offers solutions for plugs and sockets of photovoltaic systems.

Photovoltaic systems, also called solar systems to be treated as electrical systems and must therefore also with respect to the approval of their connection technology to meet high requirements. For the plugs and sockets of these plants, BASF can now offer special versions of the Ultramid ®, which not only flame retardant and highly resistant, but also very cold impact are: A property that is important for the life of the plants from wind and weather. In contactors, circuit breakers or bobbins, classical E & E applications, these special stamps are used for many years.


The Huber + Suhner, a leading global manufacturer of systems for electrical and optical connectivity with headquarters in Pfäffikon, Switzerland, used according to BASF already Ultramid ® type connectors in their latest generation of solar systems. "We decided very early on for its powerful and reliable material because it facilitates the production of our high-efficiency photovoltaic devices," said Max Goeldi, product unit manager at Huber + Suhner in Pfäffikon.

Depending on the requirements - for connectors or sockets
For the indication photovoltaic connectors BASF offers mainly Ultramid ® A3X2G7. This material is particularly rigid, so that the plugs can be very lean and still fulfill the high requirements. For example, to reach Ultramid ® A3X2G7 the UL-V0 with a wall thickness of 0.8 mm and 5VA at 1.5 mm.

For outlets of solar systems, BASF Ultramid ® A3XZG5 recommends, however. While required in the damp heat test only 1000 hours, offer the high-impact-modified Ultramid ® grade even after 4000 hours air storage at 85 ° C and 85% humidity of a stretch, which is twice as high as the previously used materials. In addition, junction boxes were made of this material with the challenging Cold Impact test according to UL 1703 easily done. This exam components if they have at minus 35 ° C after the impact of a good 500 g ball of 1.3 m height of cracks and damage. The prescribed fire protection classification UL 5VA Ultramid ® A3XZG5 fill from 2.3 mm.

Both polyamide-types are also after the interest to the solar technology f1-weathering test (UL) certification. It requires that the fire rating of the product after 1000 hours Xenon UV weathering and after seven days of water storage does not change. Strength and impact toughness after irradiation must achieve at least 70% of its initial value. This package provides the special BASF Ultramid grades well prepared for the growing market for solar technology. Initial parts will be on display at the plastics trade fair K 2010 in Dusseldorf.

Source : plasticker.de