Performance Materials
The Performance Materials division is at the forefront of the much-needed sustainability transformation in plastics. Our experts co-create products with customers to bring innovations to four major industry sectors – transportation, consumer goods, industrial applications and construction. These solutions contribute to a sustainable future by pushing the boundaries in thermal resistance, robustness and lightweight applications. Today, a substantial share of our portfolio is already available with significantly lower or even net-zero carbon footprints, using the biomass balance approach.
Sales by region 2022 (location of customer)
Sales by direct customer industry 2022
Engineering plastics
Engineering plastics are used in numerous applications, such as automotive engineering, the electrical and electronics sectors, household appliances and precision technology as well as in medical technology. This product group includes Ultraform® based on polyoxymethylene (POM), Ultradur® based on polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) and Ultramid® based on polyamide (PA).
Functional foams
Functional foams include Basotect®, a flexible open-cell foam made from melamine resin, as well as the particle foam Neopolen®. Basotect® is used for sound and thermal insulation in the construction and transportation industries and as a cleaning sponge in the consumer industry.
Polyurethanes
Polyurethane solutions make life more comfortable, safer and more pleasant, while helping to save energy. They contribute toward improved insulation of buildings and household appliances, light-weight design of cars and other consumer products. Several industry fields use the unique advantages of polyurethanes provided with the knowledge and experience of BASF’s polyurethane experts worldwide. This product group includes PU (polyurethane) systems, TPU (thermoplastic polyurethanes) and MPU (microcellular polyurethane or Cellasto®) technologies.
Specialty plastics
Specialty plastics include biodegradable co-polyesters, mainly used in various packaging applications and sold under the ecoflex® and ecovio® brands, as well as Ultrason®, a high-temperature plastic based on polyarylsulfone (PPSU, PSU, PESU) mainly used in household and healthcare applications.
Performance Materials approaches the market with a strong industry orientation, focusing on innovation to address important needs of key market segments. We work with our customers and stakeholders in the industries to introduce innovative solutions by combining our comprehensive portfolio of products with application, engineering, simulation and manufacturing know-how. Customer proximity and close collaboration are the basis for our solution-selling approach, which is a key driver for profitable growth.
| Product/Industry | Transportation | Consumer | Industrial | Construction |
| PU systems | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| TPU | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| MPU | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Engineering plastics | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Polysulfones | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Functional foams | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Biodegradable plastics | ✔ |
The Performance Materials division holds one of the top three market positions in almost all of the strategic business areas in which it is active.
The main competitors (alphabetical order) include Celanese, Covestro, Dow, Envalior, Huntsman, Polyplastics, Solvay and Wanhua.
Our focus is on all stages of the plastics journey: make, use and recycle. The make phase is about improving how plastics are made, from product design to the choice of raw materials and the manufacturing process itself. In the use phase, we improve plastics’ strengths such as light weight, robustness and thermal resistance. At the end of the product lifecycle, the recycle phase looks at how we can close the loop to achieve a circular economy. We are involved in the early stage of the product development and design and we apply digital and data-driven models that help our customers transform toward CO2 neutrality.
(from 2020 onward)
| Product group | Description | Year |
| Polyurethanes | New TPU plant in Zhanjiang, China | 2023 |
| Engineering plastics | Acquisition of Solvay’s polyamide business |
2020 |
| New Ultramid® (PA) and Ultradur® (PBT) plants in Zhanjiang, China | 2022 | |
| Expansion of Ultramid® (PA) capacity in Gujarat, India | 2022 | |
| Expansion of Ultramid® (PA) and Ultradur® (PBT) in Pasir Gudang, Malaysia | 2023 |
(from 2020 onward)
| Product group | Description | Year |
| Engineering plastics | Closure of Ultramid® compounding site in Leuna, Germany | 2022 |
(thousand metric tons per year)
| Product group | Capacity |
| Engineering plastics | 900 |
1 All capacities are included at 100%, including plants belonging to joint operations and joint ventures.
BASF and Citroën present all-electric concept car
In September 2022, Citroën and BASF unveiled their all-electric concept car “oli,” a testament to how much can be saved by reducing weight and resource usage. The concept car has a wider driving range and a significantly improved battery lifespan. The minimalistic approach paved the way for a refreshing and innovative design: Various interior and exterior components have been radically reinterpreted and constructed using materials in a different context. Citroën chose BASF as a partner for the development and design phase thanks to its innovative solutions.
Discover the oli concept car at concept-car-citroen.basf.com