The two companies will approach key OEMs and Tier 1 manufacturers with opportunities for conductive thermoplastics as a lightweight material alternative to metals. Integral is the original researcher, developer and owner of the intellectual property surrounding the ElectriPlast technology. BASF currently supplies Integral with resins used in the compounding of the ElectriPlast product line.

ElectriPlast materials are produced using a small, single-pellet design compounded with metal fibers that are molded and shaped. The company has found that nickel-plated carbon fiber, stainless steel fiber and copper fiber provide great performance for shielding and conduction applications. However, almost any metal fiber can be used to meet customer performance requirements; the company has formulated more than 80 blends covering thousands of applications.

The base resin, to a large degree, will determine the characteristics and performance of the blended ElectriPlast material, the company says. ElectriPlast composites retain the same, or very similar properties, to the base resin. ElectriPlast can be extruded or injected using standard industry equipment found in factories worldwide without the need for special machinery.

We see the conductive plastics market as a potentially important growth opportunity and the ElectriPlast technology as a leader in this developing industry.

—Scott Schlicker, Automotive Powertrain Market Segment Manager for BASF

The LOI with BASF represents Integral’s further expansion into major markets and follows an internal technical evaluation, testing and molding by BASF.

The BASF announcement follows two earlier announcements by Integral in June of this year; the signing of a co-development agreement with Delphi Automotive PLC to jointly develop wire and cable insulation applications using ElectriPlast conductive resin technology; and the announcement of a 10-year sales and manufacturing agreement with Hanwha L&C of South Korea to license ElectriPlast technology in Asia.