BASF - Polyurethanes

Key Markets

How BASF Polyurethanes are Helping Make Automobiles Better

Cellasto MCU is the leading North American supplier of jounce bumpers, spring aids, coil spring isolators, shock mounts and body mounts in the automotive chassis that, along with other NVH (noise, vibration and harshness) parts, minimize the effects of bumps in the road and improve the ride, handling and comfort.
Urethane Chemicals can be used in the manufacturing of windshield sealants or used by our customers to create foams for seating and interior panels. In addition to providing formulations for automotive seating and panel foams, including Elastoflex® low VOC foams that help prevent the fogging effect in windshields, Specialty Systems products include Elastoskin® polyurethane soft skins used in automotive interior components such as instrument panels, door trim, headrests, seats and integrated air bags.
The performance characteristics of Elastollan TPU – abrasion resistance, high-tear strength, resistance to solvents, low-temperature flexibility and high-heat stability – make it ideal for under-the-hood and interior end uses, including automotive wiring.

How BASF Polyurethanes are Helping Make Buildings Better

Specialty Systems supplies Spray-Applied Polyurethane Foams for thermal insulation, including ELASTOSPRAY® (roofing), WALLTITE® (insulating air barrier for industrial/commercial/institutional applications), ENERTITE® (insulating air barrier for residential applications) and ZERODRAFT® (air barrier continuity components). Elastopor® rigid foam systems are used to produce doors and panels.
Urethane Chemicals are used to produce coatings, adhesives and sealants for the construction industry, and as binders in the wood market, for example, to produce oriented strand boards (OSBs) and other engineered wood products. Rigid foam applications from these materials are used for thermal insulation, such as structural insulation panels, pipe insulation or in roofing.
Cellasto MCU elastomers can be found in shock absorbers or bump stops in elevators, and in window hinges.
Elastollan TPU has applications in wire and cable sheathing used in homes.

How BASF Polyurethanes are Helping Make Sports and Recreation Products Better

Elastollan TPU soft touch, durability and abrasion resistance attributes make these materials ideal for athletic footwear cushioning and shoe soles, in-line skate and ski boots, and protective equipment.
Specialty Systems provides Autofroth® systems to produce boat hulls and other marine flotation applications.
Applications for our Urethane Chemicals include binders for producing running tracks and flexible foams to cushion protective helmets.
Cellasto MCU elastomers in bicycle wheel forks help with shock absorption to make the ride smoother.

How BASF Polyurethanes are Helping Make Appliances Better

Rigid foams from Urethane Chemicals such as Lupranate® PMDI and Pluracol® polyether polyols are used in thermal insulation for refrigerator/freezers.
Specialty Systems offers Autofroth® pressurized froth foam systems for commercial refrigeration applications and Elastopor® rigid foam systems for coolers and water heaters.
Elastollan TPU is used in power tool housings, as well as for wiring, pneumatic tubing and motor components that run appliances.

This is just a sampling of the many markets BASF’s Polyurethanes business serves and the host of applications for our products. Our polyurethane foams can also be found in furniture, including BASF’s revolutionary Micro-Springs™ technology that takes comfort and shape retention in furniture to the next level and Dual-Peak™ viscoelastic “memory” foam. There is also a broad array of end-uses for BASF polyurethanes in industrial products and packaging.