Basotect® Offers You Many Advantages
- High sound absorption capacity
- Good thermal insulation properties
- Low weight
- Abrasiveness
- Flame resistance – without the addition of flame retardants
- Constant physical properties over a wide temperature range
Performance Polymers
No less and so much more: Basotect®, the versatile melamine resin foam (MF)
Sound absorption, fire resistance, thermal insulation or abrasiveness: Basotect® combines many requirements for high-performance foam in one product. In construction and industrial applications, in the automotive and transportation sectors, but also in consumer applications, Basotect® provides a great variety of options.
Basotect® is a flexible, open-cell foam made from melamine resin – a duroplastic synthetic material. A typical characteristic is the intricate spatial mesh structure that is formed by thin ribs that can therefore be bent into shape easily. Basotect® has excellent sound absorption properties, a low weight, high temperature resistance and low flammability.
Basotect® allows significant acoustic improvement in, for example, restaurants, reception areas, meeting rooms, and airplane cabins. However, Basotect® is not only the ideal solution for acoustic insulation. With its very good thermal insulation properties and easy processing, Basotect® also impresses with respect to thermal insulation and air conditioning technology.
In automobile manufacturing, Basotect® can be pressed into precisely contoured components, and thus offers optimum sound proofing. At the same time it can also function as a thermal shield in the engine compartment, for example.
A very different application option can be found in everyday life: With its flexible micro structure and gentle, abrasive effect, Basotect® effortlessly cleans tiles, glass ceramic stove tops, and stained wallpaper ‒ without the additional use of additional cleaning agents. Furthermore, you are using a product that was tested for harmful substances, because Basotect® W is certified to the STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX® (10.0.74938 HOHENSTEIN HTTI).
No less and so much more: BASF celebrates 40th birthday of Basotect®, the world’s first melamine resin foam
BASF celebrates the 40th birthday of Basotect®, the world’s first melamine resin foam. It was introduced into the market in 1984 as a flame-retardant alternative to conventional foams used for sound proofing and thermal insulation in construction. Since then, customers have come to appreciate Basotect® for its high performance and versatility: It is available in eight grades for different applications, amongst them the famous cleaning sponge, which simply rubs off the dirt without the help of cleaning agents.
The thermoset foam is a symbol of BASF’s innovative power in the foams business unlocking its potential for industries as diverse as construction, automotive, public transport, cleaning, aerospace and renewable energies with a focus on safety and energy efficiency. BASF has continued to invest into Basotect® and its customers’ needs for a specialty foam: This resulted in its being the world’s leading melamine foam based on its constantly high material quality and reliable supply from the two production plants in Germany.
Being a market pioneer, we are committed to constantly optimize Basotect® and our services to meet our customers’ needs for first-class material, innovation and sustainability. Backed by a portfolio which is unsurpassed in quality and breadth we are looking forward to continuing to shape the foam industry: as a trusted partner pushing sustainability and ensuring energy-efficiency, a low carbon footprint and well-being. For example, we now also offer a cold-flexible Basotect® grade for the durable insulation of cryogenic applications like pipes in LNG terminals.
New grade, new application: Basotect® C for
durable insulation of cryogenic equipment
BASF has now developed a new grade of its melamine resin foam Basotect®: It is called Basotect® C - a cold-flexible foam for durable and energy-efficient insulation of cryogenic applications. Its unique property profile makes it the ideal material to insulate LOX and LNG pipes, tanks and gas treatment machinery:
- Very good thermal insulation up to -196°C
- Outstanding flexibility even at very low temperatures
- Low water vapor permeability
- Excellent flame retardance (B1 according to DIN 4102)
- Easy and tight installation with vapor barriers
► Constant mechanical properties over a wide temperature range – and so a reliable alternative to commonly used materials for insulating gas treatment plants of liquid oxygen, nitrogen and natural gas.
This unique insulation foam for cryogenic applications by BASF helps to ensure tightness, energy efficiency, durability and safety for the treatment, storage and transport of liquefied gases!
Properties of Basotect®
Sound Absorption
Sound Absorption of Basotect® G+ (Impedance Tube)
Basotect®’s open-cell surface guarantees that sound waves are not reflected as an echo but can penetrate the cell structure unhindered. The sound energy is reduced in the cell structure, giving Basotect® an excellent sound absorption capacity. At low frequencies, improved sound can be achieved by adding layers of a heavier material for example.
Sound Absorption of Basotect® G+ (Reverberation Room)
Chemical Resistance
Fire Behavior
Eco-Friendliness
Basotect® Product Range
Basotect® G+
The light gray product variant is called Basotect® G+ and is equal to the white Basotect® B regarding thermal conductivity, flame retardancy and simple, mineral fiber-free fabrication. Its coloration makes it less sensitive to soiling, which also makes Basotect® G+ especially suitable for many construction and industrial applications.
Basotect® W
The pure-white Basotect® cleans efficiently and is certified to OEKO-TEX® Standard 100 in product class I. Because of its slightly abrasive properties, Basotect® W is used as a household cleaning eraser. It is used without additional cleaning agent and works like a soft sandpaper. When moistened with water, the foam slides easily and so can remove heavy dirt on a variety of surfaces such as tiles, ceramic stove tops, ceramics, doors, leather seats and hubcaps.
Basotect® B
Basotect® B is a high performance material especially designed for visible interior applications where it takes advantage of its full potential. The flame resistant foam combines excellent sound absorption and high light reflection.
Various options in shaping and coloring opens up a great freedom of design. Hence, Basotect® B provides functionality and enables creative acoustic and optical interior designs.
Basotect® UL
Basotect® UL has an impressive ultralight weight and is thus especially well-suited for all applications that call for a low weight, for example, in aviation and aerospace.
Basotect® TG
Special technical applications that call for the thermoforming of Basotect® can be manufactured with Basotect® TG. Its dark gray coloration makes it a material of choice in automotive construction.
Basotect® UF+
The gray Basotect® UF+ is characterized by a very high elasticity and by improved fire properties, which makes this elastic version of Basotect® suitable for the construction industry and rail transportation, providing much greater freedom of processing and design.
Basotect® B: 2500mmx1250mmx500mm
Basotect® G+: 2500mmx1250mmx500mm
Basotect® TG: 2500mmx1320mmx500mm
Basotect® UF+: 2500mmx1250mmx500mm
Basotect® UL: 2500mmx1250mmx500mm
Basotect® W: 2500mmx1250mmx500mm
Versatile applications with Basotect®
Successful Customer Projects
Proven in practice: These case studies demonstrate the successful use of Basotect® in customer projects.
Transportation
Construction
Consumer
Processing of Basotect®
Basotect® is supplied in the form of foam blocks to processors for further processing. This is where the product is cut into multi-dimensional shapes by slitting, milling, sawing and stamping to form the required contour. The elastic resilience of panels made of Basotect® also allows the use of shaped cutting.
Coating and Bonding
Impregnating and Thermoforming
Hydrophobing and Oleophobing
Processing Notes
Processing of any semifinished products, like Basotect®, by e.g. cutting or sawing can lead to dust formation. Any dust that might be produced during certain processing steps should be removed by vacuum directly at the cutting site. Wearing a dust mask during these tasks is recommended. Unlike products based on fibres, Basotect® is an open-cellular foam. Basotect® is therefore not associated with any irritating effects caused by the release of fibers, and so there is no need for additional safety measures during handling and transportation.
Due to the absorption behavior of melamine resin and the open-cell structure of the foam, the moisture content of the material changes with the ambient conditions. This is associated with changes in dimensions that occur similarly in the case of wood, concrete or clay tiles. This behavior must be taken into consideration during processing. The foam blocks, which are delivered sealed in PE film, must be unpacked and stored for several days prior to processing under atmospheric conditions corresponding to the blocks’ later use.