University of Colorado students win third annual BASF science competition

Students presented novel approach to coating carbon fiber

SOUTHFIELD, MI, September 8, 2017 - Four students from University of Colorado - Boulder won the third annual BASF science competition, held at the company’s coatings headquarters in Southfield, Michigan. The challenge for this year’s competition was to create a superior finish on carbon fiber composites.

Lightweight carbon fiber is used in vehicles to improve fuel efficiency. It is difficult to coat because when carbon fiber composites are heated and cooled, ridges form on the surface. The winning team, representing the Chemistry and Biochemistry; Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering and Materials and Science Engineering departments at the university, used their combined expertise to solve the challenge by adding a nanomaterial.

“The research proposal by the University of Colorado team is a novel and creative solution to a real customer need,” said Peter Eckes, BASF President, Bioscience Research and North American Research representative. “ As a result, BASF will explore their proposed solution further.”

Four teams of students presented proposals to a panel of BASF executive judges. The proposed ideas will be evaluated by the sponsoring BASF business units for possible further development. The three other finalist teams represented Queen’s University, Southern Mississippi University and University of Massachusetts-Amherst with Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

All four presenting teams received cash awards.

For a press photo please click here:
https://www.basf.com/press-photos/us/en/photos/2017/09/09-08-17_BASFScienceWinners.jpg
Suggested caption: Keith Middleton, BASF team coach and Strategic Customer Development Program Manager, far right, stands with the winning team from the University of Colorado (left to right) Kyle Foster, Ryan Pearson, Matthew Ryan and Kristen Hess.

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 $16.2 billion in 2016. 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 114,000 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 about €58 billion in 2016. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchanges in Frankfurt (BAS), London (BFA) and Zurich (BAS). Further information at www.basf.com.

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