Nuvera Fuel Cell Company is using BASF's Ultramid Advanced N polyphthalamide (PPA) resin to manufacture multiple components in its latest generation 45-kilowatt fuel cell engine. These fuel cell engines will be integrated into Chinese buses and transportation vehicles in the next three years.
Components such as manifolds, thermostat housings, one-way valves, fuel injectors and exhaust pipes need to have stable material properties at different temperatures. Ultramid Advanced N3HG6 exhibits excellent heat resistance and chemical resistance, outstanding mechanical properties, high impact strength, good dimensional stability and long-term stable performance.
Because some components are in contact with cooling water, air, and hydrogen and are exposed to various media, PA9T-based PPA compounds not only meet the purity requirements for sensitive applications of fuel cells and electronic parts, but also have excellent chemical resistance.
The material has excellent stiffness and strength, high toughness, and good wear and friction behavior. In a large number of tests for coolant applications, it has successfully proved that it can be stable for 10,000 to 20,000 hours in a mixture of ethylene glycol, water and hydrogen at a continuous use temperature of 105°C. BASF PPA can also achieve extremely low fuel and gas permeation and low volatiles, thereby preventing corrosion or fouling of the engine system.
"The continuous use temperature requirement of materials is higher than that of ordinary plastics," explained Jim Peet, BASF’s PPA business development manager. "With our expertise in automotive plastic parts, as well as our Ultrasimò CAE support and our extensive With the PPA product portfolio, we are able to provide suitable materials for different fuel cell components. This approach allows us to help Nuvera develop these challenging new applications and optimize performance for one of the key technologies in the future."