BASF (Ludwigshafen / Germany; www.basf.com) is to introduce an addition to its range of ABS copolymers that has been specifically developed for use in plumbing fixtures, the household sector and the automotive industry for components produced by electroplating. Parts produced in “Terluran” BX 13074 will be showcased at “K 2010” (www.k-online.de) in Düsseldorf / Germany later this month. The material has a broad processing window when considering residence time and the temperature of the electroplating bath. It can be used in all commercially available baths and its reliability translates into a lower reject rate, BASF said.

The material is claimed to have high peel strength and has been successfully tested for adhesion on a complex grid plate. The first high-quality operational plates for flushing mechanisms have already been manufactured in the new material by Werrit (Buchholz, Westerwald / Germany). Other possible sanitary applications are for water faucets, shower heads and other shiny surfaces in bathrooms and kitchens. In the automotive sector, radiator grilles and trim strips are electroplated and the method is also employed in jewellery production.