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Elastofoam® I: A Combination of a Flexible Foam Core and a Compact, Tough Skin

Elastofoam® I is especially distinguished for its decorative surface finish. The integral foam is extensively employed in the automotive and furniture industries producing steering wheels, gear shift knobs, seat shells, armrests as well as in engine compartment heavy duty uses for cable encapsulation, engine covers, oil pan covers, grommets and gaskets in filter elements.

Benefits

Advantages of Elastofoam® I:

  • Decorative surface finish, high abrasion resistance
  • Resistant to mechanical stress and chemicals
  • Elastic even after continuous stress
  • Added layer of water-based in-mold coating can be incorporated to provide UV-stability and multi-tone color options
  • Low thermal conductivity
  • Cost-effective, One-shot processing for foams with integrated, attractive surface

Elastofoam® I is a two-component polyurethane integral foam system that combines a lightweight flexible foam core with a compact, tough skin, in one single-step. Elastofoam® I‘s high abrasion resistance, elasticity and superior mechanical properties helps decorative surface finish achieve its pleasant soft touch.

Applications

Thanks to the flexibility as well as decorative, insensitive surface, Elastofoam® I is the perfect material for the manufacture of armrests and seat shells. Inserts made of wood or metal give the necessary stability to the molded part.

 

The polyurethane system protects the inserted metal containers against dents and transport damage and offers additional design options. Colour coding can be implemented as well as smooth or textured surfaces. Polyurethane-fixed cable harness shapes and substantially facilitate mounting.

PU-fixed cable harness shapes and orientations substantially facilitate mounting which also brings down maintenance and repair costs. Complete cable sheathings ensure reliable humidity insulation even under extreme conditions.

High-grip, abrasion-resistant switches in flexible PU integral foams provide touch-friendly surface textures and give designers a host of options for particularly attractive solutions.

High-quality engines demand especially clean air for 'respiration'. This is an interesting example of how BASF facilitates production and simultaneously complies with all engineering requirements: a foamed edge precisely fixes and reliably seals the filter medium at the same time.

High-grip steering wheels with integral airbag covers feature surface textures that are pleasant to the touch, impact-resistant at low temperatures and compliant with all necessary safety requirements made by engineers. Moreover, they permit designers to select from a variety of attractive options.

 

Elastofoam® I provides engines with a nice-looking cap distinguished by high durability and media resistance combined with acoustic properties to reduce noise from the engine. Elastofoam® I can be manufactured in a one-shot foaming process. Since its surface is soft, Elastofoam® I contributes to reducing head impact in case of an accident with pedestrians.  

Especially in utility vehicles the extraordinary durability of Elastofoam® I parts is appreciated. Pleasant flexibility and haptics are combined with easily cleanable, abrasion-, scratch- and impact-resistant surfaces. Parts can be produced in a cost-effective one-shot process with IMC coating (in-mold coating)  

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Elastofoam® Application Range

The applications are as manifold as its product properties: Explore the various application possibilities of Elastofoam®!

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Bei der Gestaltung der einteiligen, selbsttragenden Kunststoff-Sitzschale wurde das inzwischen universell einsetzbare Computersimulationsinstrument ULTRASIMTM der BASF SE eingesetzt. In der Entwicklungsphase wurde die Sitzschale aus dem Kunststoff Ultramid® mit Hilfe des Simulationsinstruments virtuell ausgelegt. Die BASF-Entwickler nutzten dies unter anderem zur Konstruktionsberechnung und zur Belastungssimulation der Sitzschale. Abdruck honorarfrei. Copyright by BASF. In the design of the one-piece, self-supporting plastic seat shell, use was made of what is now BASFâ s universal computer simulation instrument ULTRASIMTM. In the development phase, the seat shell of the plastic Ultramid® was virtually designed by means of the simulation instrument. The BASF developers used this for example to calculate the construction and for the stress simulation of the seat shell. Print free of charge. Copyright by BASF.,Bei der Gestaltung der einteiligen, selbsttragenden Kunststoff-Sitzschale wurde das inzwischen universell einsetzbare Computersimulationsinstrument ULTRASIMTM der BASF SE eingesetzt. In der Entwicklungsphase wurde die Sitzschale aus dem Kunststoff Ultramid® mit Hilfe des Simulationsinstruments virtuell ausgelegt. Die BASF-Entwickler nutzten dies unter anderem zur Konstruktionsberechnung und zur Belastungssimulation der Sitzschale. Abdruck honorarfrei. Copyright by BASF. In the design of the one-piece, self-supporting plastic seat shell, use was made of what is now BASF’s universal computer simulation instrument ULTRASIMTM. In the development phase, the seat shell of the plastic Ultramid® was virtually designed by means of the simulation instrument. The BASF developers used this for example to calculate the construction and for the stress simulation of the seat shell. Print free of charge. Copyright by BASF.
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Die Entwicklungsingenieure Rie Kaneko und Torsten Hensel besprechen anhand eines Querschnittmodells den Aufbau des Leichtbau-Komfortsitzes. Mit Hilfe der eingesetzten E-Textile-Technologie kann die Sitzheizung direkt in Textilen und somit nahe am Körper angebracht werden. Elastoflex®-Weichschaumstoffe in den Sitzflächen sparen bis zu 20 Prozent Gewicht und bieten gleichzeitig ergonomische Vorteile durch verschiedene Härtezonen. Abdruck honorarfrei. Copyright by BASF. Development engineers Rie Kaneko and Torsten Hensel discuss the structure of the lightweight comfort seat using a cross-section model. By means of the e-textile technology used, the seat heating can be directly embedded in the textile and is thus close to the body. Elastoflex® flexible foams in the sitting areas save up to 20 percent weight and at the same time provide ergonomic advantages by means of various hardness zones. Print free of charge. Copyright by BASF.,Die Entwicklungsingenieure Rie Kaneko und Torsten Hensel besprechen anhand eines Querschnittmodells den Aufbau des Leichtbau-Komfortsitzes. Mit Hilfe der eingesetzten E-Textile-Technologie kann die Sitzheizung direkt in Textilen und somit nahe am Körper angebracht werden. Elastoflex®-Weichschaumstoffe in den Sitzflächen sparen bis zu 20 Prozent Gewicht und bieten gleichzeitig ergonomische Vorteile durch verschiedene Härtezonen. Abdruck honorarfrei. Copyright by BASF. Development engineers Rie Kaneko and Torsten Hensel discuss the structure of the lightweight comfort seat using a cross-section model. By means of the e-textile technology used, the seat heating can be directly embedded in the textile and is thus close to the body. Elastoflex® flexible foams in the sitting areas save up to 20 percent weight and at the same time provide ergonomic advantages by means of various hardness zones. Print free of charge. Copyright by BASF.
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Die Entwicklungsingenieure Rie Kaneko und Torsten Hensel besprechen anhand eines Querschnittmodells den Aufbau des Leichtbau-Komfortsitzes. Mit Hilfe der eingesetzten E-Textile-Technologie kann die Sitzheizung direkt in Textilen und somit nahe am Körper angebracht werden. Elastoflex®-Weichschaumstoffe in den Sitzflächen sparen bis zu 20 Prozent Gewicht und bieten gleichzeitig ergonomische Vorteile durch verschiedene Härtezonen. Abdruck honorarfrei. Copyright by BASF. Development engineers Rie Kaneko and Torsten Hensel discuss the structure of the lightweight comfort seat using a cross-section model. By means of the e-textile technology used, the seat heating can be directly embedded in the textile and is thus close to the body. Elastoflex® flexible foams in the sitting areas save up to 20 percent weight and at the same time provide ergonomic advantages by means of various hardness zones. Print free of charge. Copyright by BASF.,Die Entwicklungsingenieure Rie Kaneko und Torsten Hensel besprechen anhand eines Querschnittmodells den Aufbau des Leichtbau-Komfortsitzes. Mit Hilfe der eingesetzten E-Textile-Technologie kann die Sitzheizung direkt in Textilen und somit nahe am Körper angebracht werden. Elastoflex®-Weichschaumstoffe in den Sitzflächen sparen bis zu 20 Prozent Gewicht und bieten gleichzeitig ergonomische Vorteile durch verschiedene Härtezonen. Abdruck honorarfrei. Copyright by BASF. Development engineers Rie Kaneko and Torsten Hensel discuss the structure of the lightweight comfort seat using a cross-section model. By means of the e-textile technology used, the seat heating can be directly embedded in the textile and is thus close to the body. Elastoflex® flexible foams in the sitting areas save up to 20 percent weight and at the same time provide ergonomic advantages by means of various hardness zones. Print free of charge. Copyright by BASF.
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Bei der Gestaltung der einteiligen, selbsttragenden Kunststoff-Sitzschale wurde das inzwischen universell einsetzbare Computersimulationsinstrument ULTRASIMTM der BASF SE eingesetzt. In der Entwicklungsphase wurde die Sitzschale aus dem Kunststoff Ultramid® mit Hilfe des Simulationsinstruments virtuell ausgelegt. Die BASF-Entwickler nutzten dies unter anderem zur Konstruktionsberechnung und zur Belastungssimulation der Sitzschale. Abdruck honorarfrei. Copyright by BASF. In the design of the one-piece, self-supporting plastic seat shell, use was made of what is now BASFâ s universal computer simulation instrument ULTRASIMTM. In the development phase, the seat shell of the plastic Ultramid® was virtually designed by means of the simulation instrument. The BASF developers used this for example to calculate the construction and for the stress simulation of the seat shell. Print free of charge. Copyright by BASF.,Bei der Gestaltung der einteiligen, selbsttragenden Kunststoff-Sitzschale wurde das inzwischen universell einsetzbare Computersimulationsinstrument ULTRASIMTM der BASF SE eingesetzt. In der Entwicklungsphase wurde die Sitzschale aus dem Kunststoff Ultramid® mit Hilfe des Simulationsinstruments virtuell ausgelegt. Die BASF-Entwickler nutzten dies unter anderem zur Konstruktionsberechnung und zur Belastungssimulation der Sitzschale. Abdruck honorarfrei. Copyright by BASF. In the design of the one-piece, self-supporting plastic seat shell, use was made of what is now BASF’s universal computer simulation instrument ULTRASIMTM. In the development phase, the seat shell of the plastic Ultramid® was virtually designed by means of the simulation instrument. The BASF developers used this for example to calculate the construction and for the stress simulation of the seat shell. Print free of charge. Copyright by BASF.
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Processing of Elastofoam®

The following methods can be used for the processing of Elastofoam®.

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