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BASF provides unmatched comfort and quiet onboard new luxury yacht
- Basotect used for first time in a Sunbird luxury yacht
- Engine noise aboard the Sunbird 108-foot series reduced dramatically
SHANGHAI, CHINA and FLORHAM PARK, NJ, June 3, 2016 – Basotect®, a melamine foam, applied to the new 108-foot series luxury yacht manufactured by Sunbird Yacht Co., Ltd. (Sunbird), reduces engine noise. This provides owners and guests with unmatched comfort and quietness onboard. Sunbird is one of the largest yacht manufacturers in China.
“Basotect has been widely used in cars, trains, and airplanes for many years to provide a smooth, quiet ride,” said Kin Wah Chay, Vice President, Global Business Management, Specialty Plastics at BASF. “Now, it is used for the first time in a yacht of that size, showing how great acoustics are possible in all kinds of transportation.”
Basotect, applied to the engine compartment’s side panels, are a major outlet for noise from the motor.
“Yacht owners demand quality, luxury, and performance from their craft. This includes quiet, comfortable compartments,” said Dairong Hu, Vice General Manager of Sunbird. “We chose Basotect for its excellent sound absorbing values in the high and medium frequency ranges.”
Along with excellent sound absorption properties, Basotect is of low flammability and resistant to high temperatures. This high performance material is thermally stable up to 240°C and can withstand high operating temperatures adjacent to the yacht’s engine.
Increasingly, yacht owners are more aware of the energy efficiency level of the types of vessels they purchase. In addition to sound absorption and heat resistance properties, Basotect is a lightweight material that aids in yacht performance improvement.
“In order to keep fuel consumption and CO2 emissions at a low level, our designers were required to use very lightweight materials wherever possible,” added Hu. “With a density of only 9 kg/m3, Basotect is lighter than traditional acoustic materials. In addition, Basotect reduces dust particles caused by fiber-based acoustic materials.”
Basotect melamine resin foam is easily processed by blade and wire cutting, as well as sawing and milling, which enables dimensions and contours of customized components to be easily and precisely produced. It can also be thermoformed with felt, fabrics, metal foil, and plastic film to form parts with complex designs.
Sunbird, with a production site located in Zhuhai, Guangdong, is now one of the largest, high performance composite and Steel-FRP boat and yacht manufacturers in China. Processing and installation of Basotect on the Sunbird 108-foot series is provided by Guangzhou NVHXIN Material Co., Ltd.
For a press photo, please click on the following link:
https://www.basf.com/press-photos/us/en/photos/2016/06/06-03-16_BasotectSunbird.jpg
Suggested caption: Basotect®, the melamine foam, is applied to the new 108-foot series from Sunbird Yacht Co., Ltd. (Sunbird), to reduce engine noise.
About Basotect®
Basotect® foam has a unique range of properties. Its base material makes it flame-retardant and abrasive; it can be used at up to 240°C and retains its properties over a wide temperature range. Because of its open-cell foam structure, it is light, sound-absorbing, flexible even at low temperatures and thermally insulating. Basotect® is a registered trademark of BASF SE. More information: www.basotect.com
About BASF’s Performance Materials Division
BASF’s Performance Materials division encompasses the entire materials know-how of BASF regarding innovative, customized plastics under one roof. Globally active in four major industry sectors - transportation, construction, industrial applications and consumer goods – the division has a strong portfolio of products and services combined with a deep understanding of application-oriented system solutions. Key drivers of profitability and growth are our close collaboration with customers and a clear focus on solutions. Strong capabilities in R&D provide the basis to develop innovative products and applications. In 2015, the Performance Materials division achieved global sales of € 6.7 bn. More information online: www.performance-materials.basf.com
About BASF
BASF Corporation, headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, is the North American affiliate of BASF SE, Ludwigshafen, Germany. BASF has nearly 17,500 employees in North America, and had sales of $17.4 billion in 2015. For more information about BASF’s North American operations, visit www.basf.us.
At BASF, we create chemistry for a sustainable future. We combine economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. The approximately 112,000 employees in the BASF Group work on contributing to the success of our customers in nearly all sectors and almost every country in the world. Our portfolio is organized into five segments: Chemicals, Performance Products, Functional Materials & Solutions, Agricultural Solutions and Oil & Gas. BASF generated sales of more than €70 billion in 2015. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchanges in Frankfurt (BAS), London (BFA) and Zurich (AN). Further information at www.basf.com.
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