Performance Polymers
coolpure 1.0: Fridge of the Future
Innovative materials, functionality and futuristic design: The concept fridge coolpure 1.0 demonstrates the versatility of polyurethane materials of our product portfolio. The result of this design study? The fridge is neither white nor square and does much more than refrigerate.
We Innovate to Make You More Successful
Reinventing the well-known is the idea behind the concept fridge. As an outcome of the design study coolpure 1.0 the household device changes into a technological piece of furniture. For a long time, it has not varied a lot in shape or color, but this fridge now offers lighting and seating in addition to the cooling function. This is achieved through the use of ten innovative polyurethanes. The fridge consists entirely of the material, which is currently mainly used for insulation. "With coolpure 1.0 we would like to show the diverse possibilities for future materials and designs, exploiting the versatility of polyurethanes," explains Project Manager Dr. Nils Mohmeyer.
The Concept Fridge coolpure 1.0
The Materials of the Visionary Household Device
The used polyurethane materials allow design that is anything but standard: instead of white and square, exceptional shape and color have been achieved for coolpure 1.0. Furthermore, the design study illustrates that innovative materials can also be used for specific conditions such as the inside of a refrigerator. Discover the materials!
COLO-FAST® WST®
The encapsulation material COLO-FAST® WST® ensures a pressure-less application of the glass of the freezer drawer. The Window Spray Technology is seal and surround in one and provides perfect smoothness of seal and glass.
Elastofoam® I
With its both flexible and elastic properties, Elastofoam® I delivers remarkable comfort for the seating elements of coolpure 1.0. The pleasant feel and good skin formation transform the purely functional refrigerator into an impressive piece of furniture. Thanks to its excellent flow, the system is also capable of replicating complex textures in all imaginable shapes or colors – high design freedom is thus always assured.
Permaskin®
The exterior and interior surfaces, including the bottle rack, are coated with Permaskin®. These flexible films based on thermoplastic polyurethane elastomers refine the surfaces and contours of coolpure 1.0 and provide protection as well.
Elastollan® Soft Touch
The door handle is made of Elastollan® Soft Touch providing a very pleasant touch. The aliphatic, thermoplastic polyester polyurethane is highly light- and colorfast, and renders additional coatings superfluous. It also shows impressive resistance to abrasion and scratches.
Elastollan® LED Optical Waveguide
For the interior lighting and the external light strip "ambient light" flexible optical waveguides made of Elastollan® have been implemented. The light is particularly soft, economical and available in any color. The waveguides are crystal-clear and highly amorphous, allowing for an extremely low dimming of light. Surfaces can be manipulated in order to achieve controlled light effects.
Elastollan® Gasket
The sealing profiles made from Elastollan® provide outstanding hydrolysis resistance and cold flexibility. Because the thermoplastic polyurethane is resistant to microorganisms, it can be used for the extrusion of profiles and continuous seals as surrounds.
Elastocool® Advanced
Elastocool® Advanced has outstanding thermal insulation properties, which means another cut in energy consumption. The significant reduction in demoulding time boosts the capacity of the foaming line and adds to the flexibility of the production process. The system’s compression resistance has been additionally enhanced, thus making it possible to reduce density and hence the input of material.
Elastollan® Shelves
The shelves are made of thermoplastic polyether polyurethane and distinguished by their excellent hydrolysis resistance and cold flexibility. Good thermoform properties allow for extraordinary designs. Elastollan® is highly transparent, even in thick walls. There is an extra optical effect, as the shelves of coolpure 1.0 light up with light from rear-mounted LEDs, which is emitted at the cut surfaces.
Elastopor® H
Elastopor® H ensures energy efficiency. The open-celled rigid foam Elastopor® H has a low density and very high compression strength, making it especially suited to the production of vacuum insulation panel cores. The PU rigid foam can be produced in precisely contoured panel forms and easy to process.
Balindur™
For high standards of energy efficiency of coolpure 1.0 Balindur™ was used for fixing insulation panels. The polyurethane foam is not only adhesive, but also compensates for unevenness in the substrate. The panels are invisible from the outside.
10 Steps Towards a Cool Future
Idea and Concept
Fridge in a New Look
Starting point for the design study was to go at something well-known. Object of this challenge: a household device which has not changed a lot in shape or color for a long time.
BASF does not intend and will not work on producing fridges itself. The recent design study rather shows that a fridge does neither need to be white nor square – it does much so more than refrigerate.
Inspired by Living Spaces
The design is anything but standard. As the kitchen is becoming more and more a living quarter again, household devices like fridges change into technological pieces of furniture.
Surfaces made of polyurethanes can be designed in any form and any color. The use of LED optical waveguides serves as indirect lighting in the kitchen. Plus, there is comfortable seating.
Revelation of coolpure 1.0
Impressions from showcasing the coolpure 1.0 at UTECH 2012
Our Project Partners
coolpure 1.0: Our Project Partners
For the design study coolpure 1.0 we have worked with various project partners:
- Scherfdesign Concept & DevelopmentDesign, communication, fair construction
- ISOSPORT Verbundbauteile GmbHPermaskin®
- PROTECHNICPermaskin® printing
- Meldon Plastics BVGasket
- va-Q-tec AGVacuum Insulation Panels (VIP)