New BASF foam variant streamlines aircraft insulation

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2006-04-05 News Headlines

New BASF foam variant streamlines aircraft insulation

BASF is now offering a new variant of Basotect, a sound-absorbing and heat-insulating melamine resin foam, particularly suitable for the insulation of aircraft cabins.

The material is called Basotect UL* and it is particularly suitable for the insulation of airplane cabins. Weighing only six grams per litre, it is 30 percent lighter than conventional Basotect, meaning that this new BASF foam is able to meet the ever-rising requirements made in aircraft construction in terms of sound protection and weight reduction. This new, yellow-coloured Basotect UL also complies with the stringent fire-protection standards stipulated by aviation authorities.

Basotect* is a flexible, open-cell foam material made from melamine resin, a thermoset from the group of aminoplastic resins. The special combination of the chemical and spatial structure of the material gives rise to a particularly attractive range of properties. Basotect* has high sound absorption, high heat resistance, good fireproofing properties, very good flexibility and is very easy to process. The advantages of the product emerge from the combination of these different properties.

Easy to install
Thanks to its filigree, three-dimensional network structure consisting of easily thermoformable filaments, panels made of Basotect UL are simpler to install than the glass fibre pads with which manufacturers normally insulate their aircraft. In a complex procedure, glass fibres have to be spun before they can be secured in the form of pads between the ribs of the airplane fuselage. Moreover, the vibrations that typically occur during flight cause the fibres to slip down over the course of time, which can impair the insulating effect. Basotect UL, in contrast, is more flexible and softer than glass fibres - so it is simple and quick to install while being permanently secured against slippage.

Gliding through the air - The new, yellow-colored Basotect UL* for the insulation of airplane cabins. Click Go for High resolution imag. Photo: BASF

Basotect UL has a number of advantages over foams that are already in use for interior insulation in aircraft. It is not only much more flexible than materials such as polyimide foam, but the BASF foam also retains its flexibility, even at extremely low temperatures at which it exhibits a better thermal insulating effect.

Basotect*, a thermoset foam, belongs to the PlasticsPlus* product line of BASF’s styrenics. In its well-established version weighing nine grams per litre, it has been a longstanding fixture in aviation, finding its way into airplane seats and at times also into the insulation of cabin walls and pipelines. Owing to its favourable combination of a number of properties such as temperature and flame resistance, extremely low weight, elasticity, sound absorption and thermal insulation capabilities, this foam is also found in many other areas of daily life, particularly in the sound insulation of buildings such as acoustic test facilities, movie theatres and VIP lounges as well as in vehicle construction.

* PlasticsPlus, Basotect UL and variants are registered trademarks of BASF.

Find information about BASF.

PlasticsPlus
BASF has bundled a product line of specialty plastics comprising high-performance styrene plastics, biodegradable materials and foams under the umbrella of PlasticsPlus. Whenever high requirements have to be met, our experts, working with the products of PlasticsPlus, can provide a great deal of diversity, reliability, partnership as well as innovative solutions.

Read a recent BASF press release about; 'BASF Engineering Plastics variants offer the requisite high-temperature and chemical resistance for an innovative double-clutch automatic transmission unit.'

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