BASF (Ludwigshafen/ Germany; www.basf.com) has introduced “Basotect UF+”, a sound absorbing and thermally insulating foam made from melamine resin that replaces the “Basotect UF” grade. The lightweight flexible foam is suited for the insulation of rail vehicles and heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) technology in buildings, among other applications. Basotect UF+ is available worldwide as of now.

The company says the dimensional stability, very low density and excellent flame retardant properties make the foam suitable for sound absorption applications, with the updated Basotect UF+ grade achieving the highest possible safety level for fire protection in the transportation sector, an HL3 level hazard classification according to the “EN 45545-2 European Railway standard for fire safety”. The new foam also meets the fire safety requirement for the “American ASTM C1410 test standard for industrial applications”. Basotect UF+ provides the same properties of its predecessor – see Plasteurope.com of 21.04.2006 – including high elasticity, low thermal conductivity and low density of 7 kg/m³ without release of mineral fibres during processing.