After seven years of research, BASF unveiled its new high-performance insulating material at its Lemförde location to selected guests from the media and trade press. The product premiere of Slentite also coincided with the ground-breaking ceremony for the construction of a pilot plant on the works site which will supply sample quantities of the new insulating material as of mid-2014. BASF is thus investing in its location in Lower Saxony where the company employs a roughly 1380-strong workforce.After the welcome address by Dr René Lochtman, Managing Director of BASF Polyurethanes GmbH, the guests had the opportunity to experience the new insulating material at first hand. Under the supervision of Dr Marc Fricke, leader of the team that has developed Slentite, the insulation panels were affixed to a wall. The special features of the product immediately became obvious: the panel is extremely thin and space-saving and easy to process. This has been made possible by BASF’s first-time feat of developing an aerogel with its excellent insulation values in the form of a mechanically strong panel.
In the further course of the product premiere, Dr Christian Fischer, President of Advanced Materials & Systems Research, BASF SE, explained the special importance of research and innovation for the company. Dr Rudolf Plagge of the Institute of Building Climatology at TU Dresden illuminated the future requirements of insulating materials such as good moisture regulation, while architect Alexander Kahnt also looked ahead to the coming years: in his view, growing urbanisation, dramatic population growth and the shortage of natural resources will call for new architectural solutions. And BASF will make its contribution with Slentite.
In a seven-year research process, BASF has developed a new high-performance insulating material for the construction and refrigeration sectors. This is the first time that an aerogel has become available as a solid panel. Slentite has excellent insulation values, saves space in its application and is also designed for simple and neat processing. The company now intends to realise pilot projects with selected partners in architecture and industry.
