1951 / Styropor

The year 1951 witnesses the production of Styropor, a type of plastic destined to conquer the world’s markets. This rigid white foam consists of 98 percent air and captures air’s key attribute: its excellent insulating property. Civil engineers and packaging designers alike are excited. The foamed plastic material is as popular for insulating roofs, walls and ceilings as it is for packaging fragile porcelain or frozen foods.

Developments of the white Styropor, also used as insulating materials, add to BASF's product portfolio: finer pored green Styrodur (1964) and graphite gray Neopor (1998).