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Technology
BASF continuing research
Biodegradable plastics and plastics based on renewable raw materials are a constant part of BASF’s research and development activities. After the market introduction of Ecovio® LBX 8145 beginning of 2006, first lab samples of the new Ecovio L Foam will be available in October 2007. The material is designed for foamed food trays and fast-food boxes. Like its predecessor the new Ecovio L Foam consists of Ecoflex®, BASF’s biodegradable polyester, and the renewable raw material polylactic acid (PLA) (P 269).A new Styrolux® grade (SBC: Styrol-Butandien-Copolymer) has been deve-loped for shrink sleeves in beverage bottle packaging. Films made of the new Styrolux HS 70 have a significantly higher final shrinkage than all other SBC products in the market. This allows form-fitting sheathing even for bottles with complex geometries and thus makes possible attractive and individual product design (P 270).
Together with BASF and the furniture company Plank the internationally acclaimed industrial designer Konstantin Grcic has designed and produced an innovative chair within the record time of only one year. The chair combines high design standards with intelligent production via injection molding: The cantilever chair „MYTO“ is entirely made of Ultradur® High Speed, the very easy-flowing PBT (polybutylene terephtalete) from BASF and will be unveiled on K fair’s opening day at BASF’s stand by the designer himself (P 271).
There is also news from designfabrik™ (design factory), BASF’s plastics service platform for designers which is located in Ludwigshafen since May 2006. The designfabrik’s technical support and advice in connection with the choice of material, processing technique and color has now been extended to all BASF plastics and includes Styrenics as well as Engineering Plastics and Polyurethanes (P 272).
The foam Basotect® has also aroused designers’ interest. The company Walter Knoll from German Herrenberg has developed the first fire-proof sofa by using a core of BASF’s speciality foam. The flame-resistant melamine resin foam will be part of the whole upholstered design furniture series KITE 560 which is particularly well-suited for furbishing public spaces where fire protection regulations are very strict (P 273).
