Major German chemicals company BASF (Ludwigshafen; www.basf.com) has unveiled a new high-performance PU insulating material for the construction and refrigeration sectors. The material, "Slentite", is the culmination of seven years of research to develop an aerogel in the form of a mechanically strong panel. This very thin and solid board has excellent insulation properties, saves space and can be processed easily, BASF said.

The company has also begun construction of a pilot plant in Lemforde, Germany, which will supply sample quantities of Slentite from the middle of 2014. BASF said it will pursue pilot projects for Slentite with selected partners in architecture and industry.