How does temperature affect BASF plastics?
Plastics have a higher Coefficient of Thermal Expansion (CLTE) than metals or ceramics. They will “grow” or expand at high temperatures and “shrink” or get smaller at lower temperatures. Our Ultra and Petra products will retain their physical characteristics better at relatively high temperatures and much better than amorphous resins. At low temperatures, plastics become more brittle, and they become more ductile (and less stiff or strong) at higher temperatures. Higher temperatures will accelerate the absorption of moisture for nylon 6 and 6/6, but have no real effect most of our other products. Long periods of high temperature exposure will degrade a material with no chance of recovery while thermal spikes can be tolerated.
