Innovations from chemistry for vehicles of tomorrow
BASF is presenting innovative products and solutions for the automotive industry at the International Suppliers Fair (IZB) in Wolfsburg from October 10 to 12, 2012. At stand 208 in hall 2, BASF experts inform visitors about products and technologies for weight reduction, interior and exterior applications, powertrain, and chassis. With 760 exhibitors from 28 different countries the IZB is one of the leading trade fairs for the automotive supplier industry in Europe.
“BASF is front-runner in developing new solutions for the vehicles of tomorrow. Our global presence, innovation power, and many years of relationship with our customers in the automotive industry will help to make cars of the future not only safer, but also more efficient and environmentally friendly,” said Michael Heinz, Member of the Board of Executive Directors of BASF SE, at the openingof the BASF standat IZB.
The automotive industry is one of BASF’s key customer industries. Sales to the automotive industry in 2011 were €9.5 billion making BASF the world’s largest automotive supplier in the chemical industry. It is recognized as a reliable and competent partner throughout the value chain, by carmakers and suppliers, and in the after-sales market. With its presence in Europe, Africa, North and South America, as well as in Asia, BASF has a global network.
Advanced materials and technologies reduce weight, and increase safety and energy efficiency
Innovations from chemistry will offer important new approaches to mobility in the future. BASF anticipates that the chemical content of cars will rise in order to address inter-linked automotive trends including weight reduction, emission reduction, design, new powertrains, safety, and heat management.
In order to further increase the efficiency of vehicles and thus reduce fuel consumption, lightweight construction – such as replacing metal parts with plastic – is a key factor. Reducing the weight of a car by 100 kilograms cuts fuel consumption by around 0.4 liters per 100 kilometers. BASF plastics are helping to make this possible because plastic components used in bodywork, chassis, interior fittings and engine parts can weigh only half as much as their metal equivalents.
In the jointly developed concept car smart forvision, Daimler and BASF presented the first all-plastic wheel rim, which shows its potential for large-volume production. It consists of the long-glass-fiber-reinforced Ultramid® Structure and offers weight savings up to 30 percent compared to aluminum.
Foams from BASF are mainly used in car interiors. They are able to increase the occupants’ safety while simultaneously reducing the vehicle’s weight – and thus fuel consumption as well as emissions. Due to this, car interiors are not only more comfortable and quieter, but also more resilient and durable. Elastoflex® comfort foams are tailor-made products for all seating applications. The weight and height reduced polyurethane products ensure high comfort and they display outstanding continuous usage characteristics. Elastoskin® spray foams ensure high-quality and soft-touch surfaces for instance in instrument panels and door claddings. They provide significantly more design flexibility and are up to 30 percent lighter compared to conventional materials like PVC.
Coatings solutions from BASF combine aesthetics with design. The clearcoat innovation iGloss® by BASF sets new standards in long-term scratch resistance. It significantly reduces the emergence of micro-scratches, as they can arise in the car wash for example.
With the help of the Integrated Process II, the entire primer area can be saved and the painting process can be shortened accordingly. The primer’s functions are taken over by a new basecoat system. By this, emissions as well as the energy consumption can be reduced significantly.
In the repair paint area, BASF has a novelty to offer: Glasurit RATIO Scan II is a portable system that measures the color accurately and therefore quickly and easily leads to the desired repair solution.
BASF’s fuel additives help to keep engines clean and protect the entire fuel system. The portfolio comprises gasoline and diesel performance packages for effective engine cleanliness, improved fuel economy, corresponding lower emissions and a better driving experience. Emgard® synthetic lubricants provide better fuel efficiency by significantly reducing friction and wear, and thus allow for extended maintenance intervals.
The vehicles of the future will have to be more efficient and environmentally friendly than today. BASF is leading in the development and commercialization of emission catalysts. The company collaborates with its customers to develop cost-effective solutions to meet the toughest emissions control challenges. One example of this is the Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) on filter. It controls NOx (nitrogen oxides) and PM (particulate matter or soot) emissions from diesel engines, on one single substrate. This technology has superior durability and maintains performance while saving systems space and weight.
In automotive chassis applications, polyurethane Cellasto® components are used as spring aids, top mounts and coil spring isolators to reduce noise, vibration and harshness to enhance driving comfort. BASF’s polyurethane components are to be found in every second car manufactured in the world.
About BASF
BASF is the world’s leading chemical company: The Chemical Company. Its portfolio ranges from chemicals, plastics, performance products and crop protection products to oil and gas. We combine economic success, social responsibility and environmental protection. Through science and innovation we enable our customers in almost all industries to meet the current and future needs of society. Our products and system solutions contribute to conserving resources, ensuring healthy food and nutrition and helping to improve the quality of life. We have summed up this contribution in our corporate purpose: We create chemistry for a sustainable future. BASF posted sales of about €73.5 billion in 2011 and had more than 111,000 employees as of the end of the year. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchanges in Frankfurt (BAS), London (BFA) and Zurich (AN). Further information on BASF is available on the Internet at www.basf.com.
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