Competence in Plastics

Innovative materials with versatile properties

Overview of BASF

4 BASF – the company 6 BASF Plastics – a core sector 8 Partnership – the key to success

The BASF plastics product range

10 Overview of properties

12 Styrene copolymers Terluran® ABS 14 Luran® S ASA 16 Luran® SAN 17 Terlux® MBS

18 Styrene polymers Polystyrene PS 20 Styrolux® SBS

21 Engineering materials Ultrason® PSU, PES 22 Ultradur® PBT 24 Ultraform® POM 26 Ultramid® PA

28 Foam materials Styropor ® EPS 29 Neopolen® EPP, EPE

Materials with a future

30 Plastics – pace-maker of progress

3 BASF – the company

BASF is one of the world’s largest chemical companies. The segments of its core business are Health and Nutrition, Colorants and Finishing Products, Chemicals, Plastics and Fibers, and Oil and Gas. With highly integrated production facilities throughout the world, BASF is a global player in international chemical business, achieving high levels of quality and cost-effectiveness and fast delivery response. Worldwide integration of expertise ensures that research facilities are coordinated for maximum effectiveness, allowing innovative solutions to be developed for the markets of the future.

“The world is our market”

Increasing globalization makes it vital for companies to think and act internationally, and BASF is successfully meeting this challenge.

In every growth region of the world, BASF is building new production facilities to participate in the rapid growth of world markets. World-scale plants are designed to meet the requirements of markets internationally with large quantities of product. In all of the major economic areas, – Europe, North and South America and Asia – highly efficient production and sales facilities are already in place and are supported by technical service centers. Verbund – a decisive factor The BASF Group consists of over 400 for success associated companies with more than BASF has significant expertise – 100,000 employees. Its products are unequaled anywhere in the world – in the produced in more than 39 countries and carefully planned networking of factories, are sold in about 170. with efficient integration of production and energy supply – what we call Verbund.

The concept of Verbund began with integrated production, which grew out of the history of the Ludwigshafen, Germany site. Integrated production implies effective utilization of resources and also reduced waste and emissions – synergies, which cut costs and increase cost-effectiveness.

Integrated systems are also used by BASF in relation to its wide-ranging technical expertise. Combining knowledge from different disciplines at one location maximizes the benefits to be obtained. Examples of areas included are research and development, toxicology, technical service and engineering technology.

4 Research: key to innovation

The strength of integration is clearly seen in this area. There is international collaboration between Group research and development at the center in Ludwigshafen, external R&D facilities and decentralized development units located throughout the world. The resultant benefits for research and development are put to effective use in creating innovative solutions.

The focus for 10,000 employees in R&D is new and improved products, combined with development and optimization of cost-effective and environmentally compatible methods for their production.

5 BASF Plastics – a core sector

Plastics are a core sector for BASF. The BASF Group is among the largest plastics manufacturers in the world, with one of the most comprehensive product ranges. Technology leadership and cost leadership, together with effective participation in markets worldwide and continuous development of the product range to meet customers’ requirements, are key factors for future growth of the plastics sector.

BASF – Thinking globally – competence in plastics acting locally

Plastics and Fibers is BASF’s segment BASF’s dedication to globalizing its with the highest sales revenue, with about business is also clearly apparent in the 25%. case of plastics, which are its largest sector. BASF’s development follows that The sector has a long history reaching of its markets and customers. High levels right back to the beginnings of industrial of investment are applied to establish and polymer chemistry. Today, BASF has one expand facilities for production, develop- of the most versatile product ranges in ment and sales in all of the important the world. It extends from commodities to economic regions of the world. engineering and high-performance materials, and from thermoplastics to In Europe, the core market, the most foams and polyurethanes. important plastics production plants, in addition to those in Germany, are in Substantial changes have taken place in France, Italy, Great Britain, Belgium and the plastics industry in recent years, and Spain. BASF has been a significant contributor to these. The driving force behind these In the North American economic area changes is the desire for greater efficiency NAFTA the most significant plastics for the customer. The increasing demands facilities are at Freeport on the Gulf of placed on technical expertise and Mexico, Geismar on the Mississippi and cost-efficiency form the basis for BASF’s Altamira in Mexico. In the fast-developing continuing progress with further develop- South American area, facilities are being ment in this sector. developed through carefully targeted investments and acquisitions.

The considerable growth potential of Asia makes it a key region for investment. Two of the many examples are Ulsan in Korea, where the largest and most modern ABS production plant in the world came on stream in 1998, and the integrated facility currently under construction in Nanjing, China, which provides the complete styrene value-added chain with plants for ethyl benzene, styrene and polystyrene production.

Altamira, Mexico 6 Subsidiary companies and joint ventures

BASF polyurethane activities in Europe, the Middle East and Africa are carried out by the Elastogran Group. Its high- performance products make Elastogran an expert partner wherever decisions on polyurethane applications are being made.

In the polyolefin field there are joint ventures with highly compe- tent partners. Their activities are directed at extending knowledge and expertise, creating synergies, reducing costs and increasing value for customers.

For example 1997 saw the founding of Targor, a joint venture of BASF and Hoechst which com- bines the technological expertise and product ranges of two experienced polypropylene suppliers. Targor is market leader in Europe and undisputed number one in compounded specialties.

Elenac, a joint venture of BASF with Shell and Montell, is among the largest polyethylene manufacturers. It has one of the most comprehensive polyethylene product ranges, with production and sales facilities throughout Europe.

Antwerp, Belgium

7 Partnership – the key to success

“The success achieved by our customers is the measure by which we judge our actions.” BASF provides powerful support to its customers covering all areas of co-operation. All the way from product development through to plastics recycling, BASF’s research capabilities and technical service ensure that the developments carried out with their partners achieve success.

Innovation with tradition

BASF has achieved many major break- throughs in the plastics sector: the first industrial-scale manufacture of polystyrene in 1930 and of polyamide in 1940, and the development of Styropor expandable (PS) in 1950.

Development partnerships are the key to market-oriented innovation – there has to be three-way collaboration between plastics manufacturer, processor and user. BASF values this collaboration very highly – its potential for success is clearly shown by the development of plastic fuel Customer tanks made from high-density Satisfaction polyethylene (HDPE).

Another example of successful collabora- Technical service from BASF tion is the air-intake manifold of Ultramid ® Applications & Nylon (6 and 6/6). This project demon- BASF’s thermoplastics technical service Process strates BASF’s commitment as a partner provides support for its customers, Development of automotive manufacturers and system whether the issue is the selection of suppliers. BASF has developed new materials or planning the design of tooling and components. Support includes carefully targeted utilization and development of CAE (Computer Aided Engineering) techniques such as process simulation, structural performance and accoustical evaluations, along with recommendations to improve tooling and Marketing part performance.

In addition certification in relation to fire protection and food legislation is provided as well as testing for materials and components. Logistics

BASF’s customers, therefore, have access processes, components and materials to a comprehensive service package. to give vital support for large-scale intro- duction of the product.

Examples of current BASF research topics are biodegradable polymers and the development of tailored polyolefins using metallocene catalysts.

8 Plastics and the environment

In today’s world, ecological and safety issues have prime importance in the manufacture, use and recycling of plastics. In these areas too, BASF supports its customers with broadly based expertise in a wide variety of systems for evaluating ecological issues for plastics and their applications. They include ecobalances as well as continuous optimization of products and of systems for recycling plastics wastes. For example, BASF carried out some of the early development work which opened up new possibilities in feedstock and mechanical recycling.

World Grades

Process Technology

Certified quality worldwide

A global player must be able to meet its customers’ requirements at a high level of quality, consistent throughout the world. This is why quality management Storage is a central constituent of BASF’s company philosophy.

BASF manufactures to global standards for a release of product. The success of this is driven by our compliance to ISO and QS-9000 along with the commitment from BASF to produce a quality product.

Sales

9 The BASF plastics product range

Overview of properties

The breadth of BASF’s product range is clearly illustrated by taking selected properties as examples.

Users can choose among materials with the widest possible variation of property profiles: depending on requirements, the choice may be strength, stiffness, heat resistance, transparency, or particular flame-retardant properties. BASF will have a product that can be used.

Fig.1: Rigid engineering materials

Fig. 2: Heat-resistant thermoplastics (Range of softening temperatures within each polymer range)

Fig. 3: Thermoplastics resistant to sustained high temperatures (maximum value sustained in the product range concerned)

Fig. 4: Flame-retardant thermoplastic grades

11 Styrene copolymers Terluran®... ABS

Not all ABS resins are the same. Terluran® ABS offers unique benefits you cannot get from other ABS resins. Products made of Terluran ABS can have unequaled surface gloss, unequaled surface quality, and unequaled color consistency. These unique benefits come from the proprietary technology BASF uses to make Terluran ABS.

...fulfills demanding aesthetic requirements in electrical and electronic equipment

Electrical and electronics industries increasingly require surfaces which are not only highly scratch-and wear-resistant but also decorative and easy to maintain. Terluran’s excellent antistatic performance is a particular advantage here.

...at home and in the office

Attractive products with elegant design and high quality create a feeling of well- being at home and in the office. Terluran can create exciting and varied color schemes. Terluran grades can also be electroplated, emboss-stamped or metallized. Depending on the molding equipment used, Terluran surfaces can be matt, glossy or satin.

12 ...making high-speed progress in automotive construction

Automotive construction places particularly high requirements on the materials used. Under extreme stresses they have to be dimensionally stable and must not warp, even when faced with great temperature variations.

...and in the same high quality worldwide

Terluran is setting worldwide standards for product quality. Its intrinsic color is extremely light and consistent, and the colors created can therefore have eye- catching brilliance.

BASF produces Terluran using state-of- the-art technology in world-scale plants in Asia, Mexico and Europe, ensuring that Terluran, whether uncolored or in standard colors, is available worldwide.

13 Styrene copolymers Luran® S ... ASA and (ASA + PC)

Luran S is the trade name for BASF’s styrene-acrylonitrile copolymers which are impact-modified with acrylate rubber. Luran S grades and blends offer a broad spectrum of exceptional properties. They feature excellent resistance to weathering, a high level of aging resistance and good chemical resistance. Luran S is therefore highly suitable for components needing exceptional long-term performance in extreme outdoor environments.

... brings superior properties to automotive construction

In recent years, Luran S has gained a large share in the automotive components market. Users are increasingly choosing Luran S because of its superior properties and resistance to UV radiation: even after prolonged weathering, Luran S does not show color fading or whitening typical for many other plastic materials. Components made out of Luran S retain their toughness for very long periods.

14 ...in high-performance electrical and electronic equipment

The heat resistance and colorfastness of Luran S make it the ideal material for electrical equipment subjected to high temperatures, including coffee and espresso machines, microwave ovens and sewing machines. The excellent weathering resistance of Luran S also makes it ideal for components in TV antennas, as well as for parabolic reflectors, solar energy systems, move- ment sensors, and housings for alarm systems.

... has superb weathering resistance for sport and leisure

Either in surfboards or yachts, golf carts or roof luggage containers, Luran S ensures that you can make the best of your leisure time. Either injection molded or extruded, Luran S is in good form whatever the weather.

15 Styrene copolymers Luran®... SAN

BASF’s styrene-acrylonitrile copolymers have ...with properties ideal for the trade name Luran. Luran polymers have had hygiene and cosmetics many years of proven success in a wide variety of applications in household and toiletries sec- Personal hygiene products require tors, in cosmetics packaging, and also in writ- good chemical resistance together ing implements and office equipment. Luran with high strength. The properties features excellent transparency, good chemical of Luran meet these high and dishwasher resistance, and also high requirements. Its excellent print- strength, stiffness, dimensional stability and ability also creates a wide range resistance to temperature change. of design possibilities, such as needed in cosmetics packaging.

...used all around the home

This is where Luran’s excellent transparency and durability make it indispensible where clarity is required, for example in mixing bowls, electric mixers, refrigerator inserts, tableware, vacuum flask casings and storage containers for foods of all kinds. Luran also has FDA approvals. ...and industrial applications

Luran is a heavy duty thermoplastic with excellent resistance to acids. These properties make Luran an excellent choice for many industrial applications, such as industrial batteries.

16 Styrene copolymers Terlux®... MABS

Terlux is the trade name for BASF’s MABS polymers. The key properties of this class of materials are excellent transparency, luster, high toughness and good chemical resistance. Terlux also has excellent surface quality and is easy to process. It can create particularly striking optical effects (e.g. glitter), and is extremely easy to print.This combination of properties is exceptional for an impact-modified thermoplastic and makes Terlux a specialty material for demanding applications.

...brings elegance and ...for versatility in sport and brilliance to cosmetics and leisure hygiene sectors The luster and transparency of Terlux Cosmetic products hold the make an instant impression. On closer promise of beauty and elegance. In examination, it also exhibits excellent this market the presentation of toughness and rigidity – vital attributes for products is vitally important. Elegant sport and leisure applications. and eye-catching packaging is needed to protect these very special products. Terlux offers great freedom of design and can create high-gloss surfaces with exceptional depth of colour.

...for high performance in ...a clear case at medical technology home and in the office

The specific combination of good tough- Household and office equip- ness, excellent chemical resistance, ment is in constant use. It sterilizability and problem-free bonding must have the serviceability to other materials makes Terlux the ideal which everyday use demands. choice for demanding applications in No problem for Terlux. The medical technology. Especially in excellent processing proper- diagnostics and laboratory equipment, ties of this highly durable Terlux is highly successful in a wide material make it possible to variety of uses. create products which are ergonomic in use and, above all, beautiful to look at.

17 Styrene polymers Polystyrene... PS, HIPS

The polystyrenes supplied by BASF range from general-purpose to impact-resistant grades, for injection molding and extrusion, thermoforming, blow molding and injection blow molding. As a global player BASF’s polystyrene operations extend worldwide, and its expertise in this field has been further developed in recent years. World-scale production plants now supply the most important global markets with consistently high product quality.

...in food packaging

Packaging materials, especially for food packaging, have to work miracles: they not only prevent spoiling of the product but also protect it from damage during transport and storage as well as through the sales process, and all of this while maintaining the strictest hygiene.

This is where processing and performance factors for polystyrene 476M make it a highly attractive material.

Appearance is also important, and transparent food packaging plays a part in purchasing decisions. Polystyrene 168MO offers low residual styrene levels for the utmost in taste preservation of sensitive foods and superior clarity in the oriented polystyrene (OPS) container.

Various blends with Styrolux® (SBS) allow tailored solutions to be produced for particular applications. These include films, trays and cups.

All of the materials are subject to demanding requirements for specific combinations of properties. This applies in every sector, whether it is food packaging, office and information technology or refrigeration.

BASF’s polystyrenes, in their many and varied forms, provide exceptional combinations of properties and make an indispensible contribution to the quality of everyday life. 18 ...meets the challenge of the ...keeps cool future Polystyrene’s tailored properties and easy Customers for BASF’s polystyrene plas- processing combined with its unbeatable tics include leading global manufacturers cost-effectiveness make it an ideal material of office and information technology for use in refrigeration equipment. equipment. Whether for superb high-gloss surfaces or Polystyrene 495 F is a new product with for any of the wide variety of accessories a superior combination of properties inside the refrigerator, the properties of meeting the highest requirements. It is polystyrene are equal to the task. Matt or equally successful in components for colored, transparent or opaque, BASF’s large-format housings and in decorated polystyrene is setting the standard in parts designed with elegance in mind. It is every application. a product well equipped to handle all of the challenges the future will bring. Avantra® 2710 styrenic polymer This global impact-modified liner product demonstrates the consistency of quality available throughout the world, to an identical specification.

19 Styrene polymers Styrolux® SBS

Styrolux is BASF’s trade name for its line of styrene butadiene block copolymer resins. The most important feature of Styrolux is its combination of high transparency, gloss and toughness. Styrolux can be used universally for injection molding, extrusion and thermoforming and is the most cost-effective material with this combination of properties for these applications. For example, blends of Styrolux with polystyrene are often used to manufacture food packaging disposables such as cups and lids that are both tough and transparent.

Economical solutions are possible by blending Styrolux with general purpose polystyrene (GPPS) to yield desired perfomance properties.

Styrolux keeps food fresh

Compared with other plastics, Styrolux has extremely high permeability to gases and water vapor. This allows Styrolux to be used in co-extruded systems to keep produce fresh.

Styrolux also has excellent low tempera- Styrolux for medical devices ture impact strength, very low moisture absorption, and is physiologically non- Styrolux is also used for injection molding. hazardous. Combining these features Its toughness and easy flow allow for the with its gloss and clarity, Styrolux is suc- production of parts requiring transparen- cessfully used as an impact modifier for cy, impact strength and rigidity. Medical oriented polystyrene tubs for merchandis- disposable devices manufactured with ing foods cooked in-store as well as Styrolux may be sterilized by gamma radi- items such as fruit salads. ation methods.

Styrolux is often blended with general purpose polystyrene to produce an economical solution with the desired performance properties in the manufacture of food packaging disposables such as cups, lids, and food service trays.

20 Engineering materials Ultrason®... PSU and PES

The Ultrason grades are high-temperature-resistant, amorphous thermoplastics based on polysulfone and polyethersulfone. Ultrason S and Ultrason E are used where the performance required exceeds the capabilities of polyamide, polycarbonate, polyoxymethylene and polyalkylene terephthalate. The exceptional property spectrum of these materials even allows them to replace thermosets, metals and ceramics. Ultrason’s most important features are high stiffness, high mechanical strength, high continuous operating temperatures, good electrical insula- ...for dimensional stability even tion properties and good dimensional at extreme temperatures stability. Ultrason retains its dimensional stability even in hot oil or boiling water. It is therefore an excellent choice for any application involving contact with hot liquids such as fuels or lubricants. Automotive construc- ...a hot favorite for electrical tion and chemical engineering are typical and electronic engineering examples. Ultrason parts can withstand several hundred sterilizations. Microwave Ultrason is an extremely versatile thermo- ovenware is an ideal application for plastic. In addition to outstanding thermal Ultrason, since it has to resist both properties it has low creep, even at high extreme temperatures and any discoloration temperatures, good flame retardancy, by the dyes present in foods. excellent insulation properties and high dielectric strength. Ultrason’s high stiffness, strength and dimensional stability permit its use, for example, in chip trays, the holders used on machines which manufacture computer chips.

...has outstanding filtration properties

The molecular structure of Ultrason makes it particularly suitable for many membrane applications, in medical technology for example. It is used by beverage producers in processes such as the removal of alcohol during production of low-alcohol beers. Ultrason membranes can even filter out gases. Ultrason is also resistant to many chemicals. 21 Engineering materials Ultradur®... PBT

Ultradur is the trade name for BASF’s partly crystalline, thermoplastic polyester based on polybutylene terephthalate (PBT). It is used as a material for high-quality, highly stressed engineering parts in a wide variety of industrial sectors. Ultradur features high stiffness and strength, very good dimensional stability at high temperatures, low water absorption and good resistance to many chemicals. Ultradur also has excellent weather resistance and outstanding heat aging performance.

...for applications under high stress

Ultradur’s strengths become apparent wherever high-quality parts are required, and particularly where they must withstand high stresses or moist environments. It even replaces metals – e.g. in automotive construction, where its high stiffness and strength combined with good heat aging performance are particularly valuable. Resistance to fuels and lubricants is also vital here. Glass-fiber- reinforced grades made from PBT and ASA (Ultradur S) also have especially low warpage.

22 ..as components become smaller and more complex

Components continue to become smaller and more complex and carry out increasingly demanding functions, so materials used in electrical engineering and electronics have to meet high requirements. No problem for Ultradur.

Excellent dimensional stability means that the functioning of filigree component assemblies can be relied upon whatever their environment.

In addition, Ultradur has excellent electrical and thermal long-term performance.

...when the surface is important

High-quality weather-resistant surfaces are a key requirement for components such as wiper arms and door handles. Using Ultradur this can be achieved with no sacrifice of stiffness or strength. Materials suitable for direct metallization, e.g. for headlamp surrounds, can be made from Ultradur. A process frequently used for identification marking – of electronic components for example is laser inscription. In the case of Ultradur grades there are a series of colorations which can be marked using this process. . 23 Engineering Materials Ultraform®... POM

Ultraform is BASF’s tradename for the range of polyoxymethylenes. The Ultraform range includes versatile engineering plastics with varied properties tailored for use in advanced, high-performance components. Ultraform grades combine high stiffness with mechanical strength. They exhibit outstanding resilience as well as good toughness and dimensional stability, and have good sliding friction performance. An important feature of Ultraform is its chemical resistance, especially to the usual grades of gasoline (even those containing methanol or ethanol) as well as to diesel fuels, and even to biodiesel.

..a high performer in automotive construction

With Ultraform, the designer has an engineering plastic which provides the property combinations demanded by the automotive industry. Ultraform has excellent chemical resistance and good long-term heat resistance, and is unaffected by hot fuels and oils. Ultraform grades with specific additives have good electrical conductivity, e.g. for electrically heated exterior mirrors of motor vehicles or in the fuel tank area, where the antistatic properties of these grades are particularly important.

24 ...for toughness and resistance to hot water in house- holds and leisure applications

Ultraform’s strengths are also apparent in the household and leisure sectors. Ultraform has high stiffness, strength and toughness. These properties are in particular demand for components in toy parts, for example in axles and frames where resistance to breakage under high loads is important.

Due to its outstanding resistance to hydrolysis, hot-water-resistant Ultraform retains its shape even at high temperatures – it is now in use in several hundred thousand espresso machines!

...a tough competitor in mechanical and precision engineering

Long service life, fault-free functioning and dimensional accuracy are demanded in modern mechanical engineering. Ultraform is the perfect material for this sector. It is extremely dimensionally stable, with good sliding friction performance. Ultraform is also non-corroding, and has very low friction and wear, making it particularly effective for conveyor belts. It has exceptional resilience and excellent recovery, making it ideal, for example, for use in clips and snap connections.

25 Engineering materials Ultramid®... PA

Ultramid grades are polyamide molding compositions based on PA 6, PA 66, PA 6/66 copolyamide, and also on partly aromatic polyamides. The superior properties of these materials have made them indispensable in virtually every sector of engineering and for an enormous range of components and machine parts. They are also used as high-quality electrical insulation materials, as well as for many specialized applications. Ultramid features high mechanical strength, stiffness and heat resistance. It also has good low-temperature toughness and frictional performance and is easy to process.

...no.1 in the engine compartment

The very high quality and safety requirements posed by modern automotive construction, especially where the engine compartment is concerned, place high demands on the materials used. BASF, together with its partners in the automotive industry, is discovering opportunities for completely new applications. Ultramid sets new standards in the development of air intake manifolds, pedal systems and airbag housings.

In the engine compartment in particular there are many components for which plastics can be used. Ultramid, with its superior resistance to heat, and also to fuels and oils such as hydraulic fluids and coolants, is highly suited to under the hood applications.

26 ...ensuring reliability in energy supply and engineering

The outstanding importance of Ultramid in electrical engineering derives from its high dielectric strength and tracking resistance, as well as good heat and aging resistance. These properties make Ultramid a high- quality insulating material.

There are halogen-free flame-retardant Ultramid grades which are suitable for electrical components with particularly high fire protection requirements.

...for superlative color and design, whether in household, construction or leisure

Ultramid gives almost unrestricted freedom in design and in shape and surface characteristics. These advantages stem from Ultramid’s outstanding versatility in injection molding.

Ultramid’s uses extend beyond windows, doors and bannisters. High-quality products for the personal hygiene sector, coat-rack systems and cosmetics applications depend on the performance and attractiveness of this highly valued material, turning creative visions into reality.

High-quality colors can be achieved with Ultramid, and entirely without the use of toxic heavy metals – to the benefit of mankind and the environment.

Ultramid is also used for packaging. It is food-compatible and has excellent barrier properties with respect to oxygen, organic solvents and flavors.

27 Foam materials Styropor®... EPS

Styropor is an expandable polystyrene containing a blowing agent. It is made by polymerizing styrene monomer and adding pentane. BASF invented Styropor over 50 years ago, and since then the Styropor range has grown to include more than 50 grades. Styropor has come to mean energy saving in buildings, problem solving geotechnical materials in civil engineering projects, and efficient functional packaging. It features very good heat insulation, high compressive strength, outstanding shock absorbence, low weight and resistance to moisture. A decisive advantage of Styropor is ...packaging for safe and its good price/performance ratio, evident in a secure delivery wide variety of application sectors. Performance and price are decisive factors in the packaging industry. ...for heat insulation throughout the home Styropor can fulfill all of these requirements. It is inexpensive, extremely In the building industry, Styropor heat lightweight, and can be molded, sawed, insulation simplifies design and yields milled or cut into any shape required. Its considerable cost/value benefits. surface can easily be coated.

Styropor can be used for insulation all And packaging made from Styropor around the home, in roofs and facades as provides protection against damage, well as perimeter insulation in basements. helping to reduce the proportion of products damaged during transport and Heat insulation with Styropor is making a storage, and thus conserving value. substantial contribution toward cost- effective low-energy housing.

28 Foam materials Neopolen®... EPP, EPE ...for a wide range of applications in automotive Neopolen P (EPP) is a polypropylene foam construction material. Its expanded foam beads are predomi- nantly closed-cell. It is supplied to molders in The low weight, high energy absorption the form of loose beads for processing into a and good deformation performance of wide variety of foam moldings. Neopolen P, even after repeated impact stressing, are outstanding qualities for Neopolen E (EPE) is a foam material made from components in automotive construction. crosslinked polyethylene and is produced in slab form. It is used by processors to make Neopolen also has negligible water foamed components for a broad range of absorption, and can be relied upon to applications, e.g. packaging for extremely fragile function reliably over wide ranges of products, expansion pads, insulation pads, temperature. sports equipment, bead profiles for the building industry and parts for maritime applications.

Foams made from Neopolen P and Neopolen E feature high energy absorption with low weight, good resilience following static or dynamic stressing, and resistance to chemicals. They are environmentally friendly and can be recycled by a variety of methods.

... has the performance which multifunctional components demand

The properties of Neopolen P make it a versatile engineering material which can carry out more than one task at the same time. It can function at the same time as packaging, housing, impact protection, heat insulation and sound insulation, for example in electronic equipment and heating accessories. ...for multiple-use packaging; This permits many because once is not enough engineering components to be Neopolen P is an excellent material for held accurately in multiple-use packaging, comparing place without metal favorably with other foam materials. This is fixings, giving savings where the high resilience of Neopolen fol- in both time and lowing static or dynamic stress, and its weight. good chemical resistance and low weight, are particularly valuable.

Packaging made from Neopolen P can also be sterilized, since the material is highly heat resistant.

29 Plastics – pace-maker of progress

Plastics are one of the great Plastics – indispensable... innovations of our times. Over just a few decades they have found their ...in modern heat insulation way into every aspect of daily life, Up to a quarter of energy usage in bringing significant improvements developed countries is still used for space in our standard of living. heating. This is where plastics can help BASF has been a significant contributor save energy and thus protect the toward making plastics a driving environment. For more than 50 years force for progress – progress which is BASF, with its pace-setting successfully meeting every challenge, innovations such as Styropor, whether ecological or economic. has been at the forefront of progress in this important application sector.

Plastics – materials ...in automotive construction with a future High fuel consumption is no longer a necessary feature of The use of plastics will continue to automobiles. Lighter vehicles can increase by about 4–5 percent annually run with significantly reduced fuel world-wide. This is more than the average usage and so conserve growth of GDP. The reason for this is the resources. BASF’s plastics are potential of plastics to create completely making this possible. As for new uses and to replace other materials future development, the 100 in their applications. Plastics are often the miles per gallon car will only be most economically and ecologically ratio- possible through plastics. nal solution, as shown by numerous ecobalance calculations and life-cycle BASF’s technical personnel are working analyses. together with the automotive industry and others to develop new designs for external automotive parts, as well as safety components such as airbag housings.

...in communications technology Modern information technology is making multimedia communications possible right around the globe, and this is now a basic requirement for the successful functioning of the world’s economies.

Plastics are an integral part of this technology, and they will therefore play a decisive part in shaping the future. Experts calculate that by the year 2001 more than 800,000 metric tons of thermoplastics will be used in this sector (compared with 500,000 metric tons in 1996). Examples of these from BASF’s product range are Ultradur® thermoplastic polyester in cladding for glass-fiber cables and new halogen-free flame-retardant grades of engineering plastics.

30 Plastics – economy and ...in the packaging industry ecology in harmony Lightweight, strong, hygienic, attractive, user-friendly, cost-effective, easily recy- The great economic, ecological and social cled, environmentally compatible and challenges facing us today and in the eco-efficient: it is difficult to think of future will continue to demand new another packaging material which has the approaches to problem-solving. These versatility and performance of plastics will require the very highest level of and complies so comprehensively with achievement in product development and all of the requirements placed upon process technology. modern packaging.

Plastics have a major contribution to make Food packaging in particular gives us here – combining high efficiency with low everyday proof of just how indispensable energy usage and great versatility of plastics have become. application. ...and easy recycling BASF will continue to direct its extensive All types of recycling, from feedstock R&D expertise towards utilizing this recycling via mechanical recycling to potential via innovative products, processes energy recovery in incineration plants can and applications. The concept of sustain- be used for plastics. This is another field able development is of vital importance in which BASF has carried out pioneering here, and it is this which underlies all of work by developing feedstock and the company’s activities. mechanical recycling technologies and introducing grades made with recycled materials.

31 Products of BASF Corporation Terluran® Acrylonitrile/butadiene/styrene polymer ABS Luran® S Acrylonitrile/styrene/acrylate polymer ASA, (ASA + PC) Luran® Styrene/acrylonitrile copolymer SAN Terlux® * Methyl methacrylate/acrylonitrile/butadiene/ MABS styrene polymer Polystyrene, general-purpose Polystyrene PS Avantra® *, impact-modified Specialty resins based on styrene/butadiene polymer HIPS Styroblend® Blend based on styrene/butadiene polymer PS-I blend Styrolux® Styrene/butadiene block copolymer S/B/S Ultradur® Polybutylene terephthalate PBT, (PBT + ASA) Ultraform® Polyoxymethylene POM Ultramid® Polyamides PA 6, 66, 6/66, 6/6T Ultrason® E Polyethersulfone PES Ultrason® S Polysulfone PSU Styropor® Expandable polystyrene EPS Neopolen® P Polypropylene foam EPP Neopolen® E Polyethylene foam EPE

®=registered trademark of BASF Aktiengesellschaft ® *= registered trademark of BASF Corporation

Important: While the desciptions, designs, data and information contained herein are presented in good faith and believed to be accurate, it is provided for your guidance only. Because many factors may affect processing or applicaton/use, we recommend that you make tests to determine the suitability of a product for your particular purpose prior to use. NO WARRANTIES OR ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, ARE MADE REGARDING PROUCTS DESCRIBED OR DESIGNS, DATA OR INFORMATION SET FORTH, OR THAT THE PRODUCTS, DESIGNS, DATA OR INFORMATION MAY BE USED WITHOUT INFRINGING THE INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS OF OTHERS. IN NO CASE SHALL THE DESCRIPTIONS, INFORMATION, DATA OR DESIGNS PROVIDED BE CONSIDERED A PART OF OUR TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF SALE. Further, you expressly understand and agree that the descriptions, designs, data and information furnished by BASF hereunder are provided gratis and BASF assumes no obligation or liability for the description, designs, data and information given or results obtained, all such being given and accepted at your risk.

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