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BASF Develops Plastic, Injection-Molded Automotive Rims

By Rain Noe - October 11, 2012

in Materials | Cars

Chemical giant BASF has developed a new type of polyamide containing long glass fibers, and this "Ultramid Structure" plastic, as they're calling it, can then be pelletized for injection molding. After it comes out of the mold, the resultant product is so strong it can be used in vehicle and machinery applications, in areas where the only game in town used to be metal.

Here's what that boils down to in the consumer sector: Robust, yet fully plastic, automotive rims that are 30% lighter than the metal equivalent. As automakers continue trending towards lightweighting technologies to increase fuel efficiency, it's a good bet that these rims will make it into many an engineering meeting. Take a look:

The wheels, which were first seen on a Smart Car concept produced with Daimler last year, are currently on display at the automotive industry's International Suppliers Fair in Wolfsburg, Germany. Learn more here.

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Lyndon Huraczy

8 years ago

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I have a Prius C two and would love to see how it can help reduce my fuel consumption further.

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Jonathan Dunn

9 years ago

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Truly exciting…
We know the car wheels have not just remained those muddy, unattractive and usually neglected part of the vehicle but have turned out to be the style icon as you can see at http://wheels.net/.
I was enthusiastically reading the article and this "Ultramid Structure" made me surprised a lot as its characteristics are not typical like steel and aluminum. It has all abilities to give significant turn to the smart car concept.

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Christian joy

9 years ago

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That's great to hear but is it really ideal?

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Hazael Estrada

12 years ago

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Aesthetically, I hate tweels, though i can see they will prevail, i agree with James, and aesthetically, these plastic rims idea seems nice, but how much more recyclable can they be in comparison to aluminium or steel rims, and also how much more resistant will these rims be against wear, daily use, temperature, crashes?...
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James Patrick

12 years ago

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Although the three-spoke design isn't ideal, I can see composite rims on most small cars in the near future. However, I think the Tweel will win out over pneumatic tires/rim systems such as this.

I've never understood uneven spoke distribution. I once had a bicycle with plastic, three-spoke rims which promptly distorted into rounded triangles. I guess it's just for aesthetics. If it's efficiency they're after, they should just stop cutting holes in their rims.
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