BASF unveils water permeable thermoplastic polyamide for sausage casing

BASF has launched Ultramid H33 L, said to be the ‘world’s first’ thermoplastic polyamide with a high water permeability, designed for artificial casings in which sausages can be smoked and dried.

The company says that such casings are usually made of collagen or cellulose, but polyamide is an attractive alternative as it can be used to produce artificial casings with significantly thinner walls due to its strength. The hydrophilic properties of Ultramid H allow the smoke aromas to pass through the casing and into the sausage products during the smoking process. BASF adds that the high water permeability allows subsequent drying directly in the casing.

“Ultramid H opens up new fields of application for thermoplastic polyamides that were previously beyond technical capabilities and is unique among thermoplastics. It can be processed like any other polyamide, enabling our customers to incorporate Ultramid H into their production processes without making any adjustments,” explained Dr. Rolf Minkwitz, responsible for polyamide product development at BASF.

In April, BASF Gastronomie collaborated with packaging film supplier SÜDPACK and food service company Werz to utilize BASF’s polyamide Ultramid Ccycled material for meat and sausage packaging in the hotel, restaurant and catering sector. The underlying high-barrier packaging film is reportedly manufactured according to the current German minimum standard and rated as recyclable in the polyethylene film stream.