Material Spotlight | BASF Ultramid® B218EV30: A PA66/6 Copolymer with 30% Glass Fiber – Balancing Rigidity, Surface Quality & Heat Resistance

In the world of engineering plastics, PA66 (Nylon 66) has long been a cornerstone material thanks to its excellent strength, heat resistance, and wear resistance. BASF, as a global leader in polyamide innovations, continues to set industry benchmarks with its Ultramid® series. Among them, Ultramid® B218EV30 stands out as a carefully engineered PA66/6 copolymer modified with 30% glass fiber reinforcement and advanced thermal stabilization.

1. Decoding the Grade: What is B218EV30?

Ultramid® B218EV30 is based on a PA66/6 copolymer system. Compared with conventional PA66, this copolymer technology combines the high heat resistance and strength of PA66 with the improved flowability of PA6. Additionally, the material is reinforced with 30% glass fiber and contains an efficient heat stabilizer package. This balanced formulation delivers an excellent mix of mechanical properties, long-term thermal aging resistance, and processing ease – making it a standout choice among many reinforced nylons.

2. Key Performance Highlights: Strength, Stability & Surface Quality

What makes a material truly popular in the market is its ability to solve real customer pain points. B218EV30 offers the following core advantages:

High Rigidity & Strength for Superior Load-Bearing Capacity.

With 30% glass fiber reinforcement, the mechanical performance of B218EV30 is significantly enhanced. Its tensile modulus is substantially increased, providing excellent resistance to deformation under load. Combined with the inherent high strength of PA66, this material is ideal for demanding structural parts that must maintain dimensional stability and resist creep under prolonged stress.

Excellent Heat Resistance & Thermal Stability.

Thanks to BASF’s advanced heat stabilizer system, B218EV30 exhibits outstanding resistance to thermal aging. Even after long-term exposure to elevated temperatures, it retains a high percentage of its original mechanical properties. Furthermore, the 30% glass fiber reinforcement raises the heat deflection temperature (HDT) and ensures excellent stiffness retention in hot environments – perfect for under-hood automotive components and electronic parts generating operational heat.

Superior Surface Finish & Dimensional Stability.

One common challenge with 30% glass fiber reinforced nylons is “fiber blooming,” which compromises surface aesthetics. However, the carefully formulated PA66/6 copolymer base of B218EV30 greatly improves the surface smoothness and finish of molded parts. Even without painting, it meets the aesthetic requirements for visible components. In addition, the material offers low and uniform shrinkage, ensuring excellent dimensional stability for high-precision injection molding.

Good Impact Resistance & Chemical Resistance.

While unreinforced nylons can be notch-sensitive, the PA66/6 copolymer system in B218EV30 retains good impact toughness at room temperature, reducing the risk of brittle fracture during assembly or under sudden load. The material also inherits the excellent resistance of PA66 and PA6 to oils, solvents, and various chemicals, making it reliable in harsh service environments.

3. Application Fields: From Automotive to Electrical & Industrial

Thanks to its balanced property profile, Ultramid® B218EV30 plays a key role in several high-end industrial sectors:

Automotive Industry.

Under the trends of lightweighting and metal replacement, B218EV30 is widely used for engine covers, intake manifolds, throttle bodies, and components around fuel systems. Thanks to its good surface finish, it is also an excellent candidate for unpainted exterior trim parts. In electric vehicles (EVs), the material’s excellent electrical insulation makes it suitable for high-voltage connectors, relay housings, and battery structural components.

Electrical & Electronics Industry.

With superior electrical insulation performance and thermal aging resistance, B218EV30 is a preferred material for electronic connectors, coil formers (bobbins), switch housings, and relay components. It ensures safe and stable current transmission while withstanding high-temperature processes such as soldering and reflow.

Industrial & Consumer Goods.

In mechanical engineering, the material is used for gears, pulleys, conveyor chain links, and other high-wear components. Power tool housings, pneumatic component casings, pump impellers, and sports equipment accessories also benefit from its excellent mechanical strength and fatigue resistance.

4. Market Outlook & Sourcing Advice

With the rapid growth of new energy vehicles, electronics, and smart manufacturing, the demand for high-performance reinforced engineering plastics like PA66 GF30 continues to rise. As a trading company specializing in imported engineering plastics, we keep a close eye on BASF’s latest innovations.

Ultramid® B218EV30 is available in black or natural color, primarily for injection molding. It successfully reconciles high mechanical performance, good surface quality, and easy processing. We maintain ample stock and provide professional technical support.

If you are looking for a PA66-based material that delivers rigidity, heat resistance, excellent surface appearance, and good flowability, BASF B218EV30 is an ideal choice for your challenging structural parts. Please contact us for samples and technical datasheets. We offer full-process support from material selection and mold design to mass production.