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News Release

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Frances Luk
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Tanya Tian
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China Composites Expo: BASF demonstrates technology leap in metal substitution

n  BASF showcases solutions for lighter, stronger vehicles and efficient, durable wind turbine blades

n  BASF at China Composites Expo 2013: China International Exhibition Center (new venue), Hall W1, booth AE23, Beijing, China, September 11-13, 2013

Beijing, China – September 5, 2013 – At the 19th China Composites Expo in Beijing, BASF will showcase its latest lightweight composites concepts and solutions, including performance materials for stronger and lighter vehicles and solutions that produce more efficient and durable wind turbine rotor blades.

“Lightweight solutions in the automotive and wind sectors are becoming increasingly important in tandem with evolving standards and regulations towards a more sustainable future. Our innovative solutions, now developed with all relevant composite concepts under our new Performance Materials division, are geared towards achieving this goal,” said Dr Jeffrey Lou, Vice President, Business Management, Greater China.

Technology leap in metal substitution through Ultracom package

The key highlight at this year’s China Composites Expo is the seat backrest based on the new Ultramid® COM and Ultratape™ as well as the seat pan developed along the concept of Ultramid® COM and Ultralaminate™.

The display exemplifies BASF’s new composites direction, which is based on Ultracom™, the next technological advancement in metal substitution – continuous-fiber reinforcement of injection molded structures.

Ultracom for the first time combines a complete product and service package consisting of three interlocking components: continuous-fiber reinforced multiaxial laminates or unidirectional tapes, complemented with overmolding compounds from BASF’s Ultramid® (polyamide) range, as well as powerful engineering support based on the integrative simulation tool Ultrasim®.

As such, Ultracom completes BASF’s product offering of short glass Ultramid and long glass fibre reinforced Ultramid Structure.

New epoxy resin and structural adhesive systems

BASF will introduce a new epoxy resin system for automotive lightweight applications. The Baxxodur® System 2202 is specifically developed for the production of structural parts by high-pressure RTM technology. At 120°C, it offers an injection time of 45 seconds with a good fiber impregnation and will cure within only 2.5 minutes. The thermosetting resin employs novel curing mechanisms, allowing quick cross-linking.

For vacuum infusion of rotor blades, BASF’s portfolio of epoxy resin systems now covers products for the complete range of blade sizes for both onshore and offshore turbines. The process of manufacturing blades, which is exposed to great mechanical strain, becomes much more efficient if Baxxodur system is used.

At the China Composites Expo, BASF will also showcase its innovative solutions based on carbon fibers and glass fibers for the next generation rotor blades, as well as introduce the new epoxy resin-based structural adhesive system Baxxodur® 4100 that has been certified for rotor blade production by German Lloyd.

Optimizing stability in blades with new PET structural foam

BASF will introduce the versatile and lightweight structural foam based on PET (polyethylene terephthalate) to the Asian market. The new material with the trade name Kerdyn® is used inside wind rotor blades providing stability and durability.

As core material, PET foams offer exceptionally good mechanical properties in order to withstand static and constant dynamic loads. With its very high temperature and chemical resistance, Kerdyn is well-suited for use in composites. As part of the spectrum of lightweighting materials for composites, PET foam panels are also in demand in the transportation, marine, and construction sectors.

Polyurethane solutions for automotive lightweight construction

Polyurethanes can contribute significantly to lightweight automotive construction. BASF will display the ranges of innovative polyurethane composite solutions for stronger and lighter vehicles including the Elastoflex® paper honeycomb technology for trunk floors, sky roofs and rear shelves, as well as Elastoflex® long fiber injection (LFI) as a substrate for instrumental panel that stands out for its lightweight, high strength and high stiffness.

The LFI process cuts glass fibers from a reel, and then chops it into superfine fibers which are mixed with the PU reaction system. The combined glass fibers and PU system yields an extra-strong composite material.

Polyurethane Solutions for advanced composite window frame

Another highlight this year is Elastocoat® PU window frame, a Polyurethane based composite window frame that offers not only high mechanical properties better than wood and vinyl windows which still dominate the residential market, but also low thermal conductivity better than aluminium used for high rise buildings. Moreover, the profile is made by Pultrusion process, and the intrinsic adhesion properties between PU matrix and glass fibre makes the profile thinner and the complex profile design realizable.

About BASF in Greater China

BASF has been a committed partner to Greater China since 1885. With major investments in Nanjing, Shanghai and Chongqing, BASF is one of the largest foreign investors in the Chinese chemical industry, and maintains the BASF Asia Pacific Innovation Campus in Shanghai as a research and development hub for the Asia Pacific region. In Greater China, BASF posted sales of over €5.1 billion in 2012 and employed 7,305 people as of the end of that year. BASF has 21 major wholly owned subsidiaries and 10 major joint ventures in Greater China. For further information, please visit www.greater-china.basf.com.

About BASF

BASF is the world’s leading chemical company: The Chemical Company. Its portfolio ranges from chemicals, plastics, performance products and crop protection products to oil and gas. We combine economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. Through science and innovation, we enable our customers in nearly every industry to meet the current and future needs of society. Our products and solutions contribute to conserving resources, ensuring nutrition and improving quality of life. We have summed up this contribution in our corporate purpose: We create chemistry for a sustainable future. BASF posted sales of €72.1 billion in 2012 and had more than 110,000 employees as of the end of the year. Further information on BASF is available on the Internet at www.basf.com.