Profile Extrusion: Resins
BMS thermoplastic resins offer a wide range of performance properties, including toughness, strength, and chemical resistance. BMS designs and produces three lines of resins for profile extrusion. These resins are light-weight, flexible, and shatter resistant.
- Makrolon® polycarbonates
- Bayblend® polycarbonate/styrenic alloys
- Makroblend® polycarbonate polyester alloys
Each product line includes a general-purpose grade as well as specialty grades. The specific grade you choose depends on the property requirements of the final application, the extrudability of the resin, and any secondary processing necessary.
In order to extrude good quality profiles with uniform thickness, the resins must have sufficiently high melt strength. The Bayer resins are, therefore, high-viscosity grades. In addition, some grades are branched, which have an increased melt strength compared to linear grades. This prevents collapse of the three-dimensional profile as it leaves the die, allowing the extrusion line to operate at an economical speed.
To determine the grade you require, consider typical property requirements, such as fire-retardant properties, impact properties, weatherability, light transmission, chemical resistance, heat resistance, and stiffness. Secondary processes may include painting or printing. For outdoor applications, BMS offers special low plate-out UV concentrates that can be coextruded with other resins.
Bayer resins can be supplied in multiple colors. Coloring at the extruder is also an option for all grades and is added with color master batches during extrusion.
Makrolon® Polycarbonates
Profiles made of Makrolon® polycarbonates are used in a wide variety of applications. For example, the Makrolon® grade is used for luminaire covers because of its outstanding optical properties and its heat deflection temperature. It is also used in multi-wall profiles and connecting profiles of various sizes and geometries.
The Makrolon® polycarbonate portfolio offers many grades with a variety of performing properties. The grade appropriate for your application depends on its requirements for chemical resistance, temperature resistance, flame retardancy, and stiffness. If your product is intended for outdoor applications, additional weather protection is necessary.
| Table 1. Recommended grades of Makrolon® polycarbonate for profile extrusion | |
| Grade | Properties |
| Makrolon® 1243 | Branched, UV stabilized with release agent |
| Makrolon® 1143 | Branched, UV stabilized with release agent, and high viscosity |
| Makrolon® 3107 | Linear, UV stabilized with release agent |
| Makrolon® DP1-1852 | Linear, UV concentrate for coextrusion |
These grades are particularly suitable for profile extrusion for several reasons:
- Branched grades offer a higher melt stiffness and are more economical for profile extrusion.
- Linear, high-viscosity grades, such as Makrolon® 3107 polycarbonate, can also be used for profile extrusion. Makrolon® 3107 polycarbonate is a standard resin grade. Its melt volume flow rate (MVR) is 6 cm³/10 minutes at 300°C under 1.2kg load.
- Makrolon® DP1-1852 polycarbonate is a special weather-resistant grade applied by coextrusion for outdoor applications. It provides excellent UV protection if the thickness of the coextruded layer is sufficient—usually 0.002 to 0.004 inches (0.05 to 0.10mm).
- All the recommended grades listed offer basic UV stabilization.
Depending on your application, you can also use the following linear grades for profile extrusion.
| Table 2. Additional grades of Makrolon® polycarbonate for profile extrusion | |
| Grade | Properties |
| Makrolon® 3103 | Standard grade with release agent and UV stabilization |
| Makrolon® 3106 | Food contact grade (FDA approved) |
| Makrolon® 3156 | Food contact grade (FDA approved) with release agent |
| Makrolon® 3108 | Special grade for medical applications |
| Makrolon® 3158 | Special grade for medical applications with release agent |
| Makrolon® 1804 | UV stabilized and flame retardant |
| Makrolon® 6457 | Lower viscosity and flame retardant with release agent |
| Makrolon® 6717 | Highly flame retardant |
| Makrolon® 8315 | 10% glass fiber reinforced with release agent |
| Makrolon® 8325 | 20% glass fiber reinforced with release agent |
| Makrolon® 8345 | 35% glass fiber reinforced with release agent |
| Makrolon® 9415 | 10% glass fiber reinforced and flame retardant |
| Makrolon® 9417 | UV stabilized, 10% glass fiber reinforced, and flame retardant |
| Makrolon® 9425 | 20% glass fiber reinforced and flame retardant |
You can find more information about most grades and standard values in Bayer product information bulletins. See http://www.bayermaterialsciencenafta.com/products/makrolon.
Bayblend® Polycarbonate/Styrenic Alloys
Bayblend® alloys are thermoplastic materials based on the polymerization of acrylonitrile, butadiene, and styrene (ABS). Depending on the blend ratios, the grades have varying properties. This broad property spectrum makes these resins suitable for many different applications. Profile applications include automotive parts for trucks, buses, and recreational vehicles (RVs) as well as electrical components in other industries.
The Bayblend® portfolio offers many grades with a variety of performing properties. The grade appropriate for your application depends on its requirements for chemical resistance, temperature resistance, flame retardancy, and stiffness. If your product is intended for outdoor applications, additional weather protection is necessary.
| Table 3. Grades of Bayblend® alloy for profile extrusion | |
| Grade | Properties |
| Bayblend® T65 | Standard grade |
| Bayblend® T85 | Standard grade, high-heat resistance |
| Bayblend® FR3030 | Flame retardant |
| Bayblend® ET1000 | Mineral filled, high modulus |
| Bayblend® ET1100 | Mineral filled, high modulus, high-heat resistance, Vicat is 288ºF |
| Bayblend® T88-2N | 10% glass filled |
| Bayblend® T88-4N | 20% glass filled |
You can find more information about most grades and standard values in Bayer product information bulletins. See http://www.bayermaterialsciencenafta.com/products/bayblend.
Makroblend® Polycarbonate/Polyester Alloys
The Makroblend® polycarbonate/polyester portfolio offers alloys of polycarbonates and polyester. Depending on the blend ratios, the grades have varying properties. This broad property spectrum makes Makroblend® PC/polyester resins suitable for many different profile applications.
The Makroblend® portfolio offers many grades with a variety of performing properties. The grade appropriate for your application depends on its requirements for chemical resistance, temperature resistance, flame retardancy, and stiffness. If your product is intended for outdoor applications, additional weather protection is necessary.
| Table 4. Grades of Makroblend® alloy for profile extrusion | |
| Grade | Properties |
| Makroblend® UT1018 | Good low-temperature impact strength and good chemical resistance |
| Makroblend® UT153 | Best low-temperature impact strength, high-heat resistance |
| Makroblend® DP UT5107 | Good low-temperature impact strength and good chemical resistance |
| Makroblend® DP EC150 | Flame retardant |
| Makroblend® UT408 | Food contact grade (FDA approved) |
| Makroblend® UT620G | 10% glass filled |
| Makroblend® UT640G | 20% glass filled |
| Makroblend® DP4-1386 | Transparent |
You can find more information about most grades and standard values in Bayer product information bulletins. See http://www.bayermaterialsciencenafta.com/products/makroblend.
If you have any questions about using Bayer resins for profile extrusion, you can reach the technical team at BMS using the Contact form.
