BASF announced last week that its new laser-engraveable polyamide supplied to South Korea's leading antenna manufacturer, EMW Antenna, has been used to develop the world's first plastic miniature antenna for GPS and Bluetooth mobile phones.
   This new product, UltramidT4381LDS, is a semi-crystalline, partly aromatic, high-temperature resistant polyamide 6/6T. It is reinforced with 10% glass fiber and 25% mineral filler, providing a wider processing range without damage Its mechanical properties.
   The Ultramid T4381LDS has a wider frequency range and lower voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR) than a ceramic miniature antenna, which improves the antenna performance compared to the conventional material ceramics used for mobile micro antennas. In addition, it also saves costs by reducing the rate of defects and reducing manufacturing processes.
   Previously, EMW Antennas only produced mobile main antennas. This is the first time that it has entered the highly competitive micro-antenna field. The company has now begun to offer the plastic micro-antenna to major mobile phone companies.
   Mr. Ou Dafu, Group Vice President of BASF Engineering Plastics Asia Pacific Group, said that this is undoubtedly a challenging project, but in the perfect engineering design, unremitting efforts and close cooperation between EMW Antennas, laser equipment manufacturers and BASF The successful completion of the next. Plastic micro antennas were put into production, thanks in large part to the joint efforts of Korean and German engineers. They carried out electrical and laser tests and participated in injection tests. This team achieved commercialization of the part in less than one year, which was a great success.