BASF products for sustainable construction in Abu Dhabi

* Strategic partner for the construction of Masdar is exhibiting at the World Future Energy Summit
* Innovative products and system solutions significantly reduce CO2 emissions


Insulation materials for buildings, black pigments for reducing surface heat and concrete admixtures helping to lower CO2 emissions – these are just a few examples of the solutions that BASF will be exhibiting at the World Future Energy Summit in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates from January 18 to 21. With its cost-efficient concepts for sustainable building, BASF is showing that CO2 emissions can be substantially reduced in the construction and use of buildings and that the living comfort is improved as well.



The organizer of the fair is the project company for the future Masdar City, the world’s first CO2-neutral and zero-waste city that is to be built by 2016 in the desert of the Abu Dhabi Emirate some 30 kilometers outside the city of the same name. Since August 2009, BASF has been the strategic partner for the construction of Masdar City and preferred supplier of building materials and system solutions. For example, the use of special BASF concrete admixtures in Masdar enables CO2 emissions to be reduced by up to 60 percent .



At the World Future Energy Summit, BASF will have its own stand under the theme “Building sustainability. Your partner for sustainable construction solutions”. BASF adapts its globally available extensive range of products and system solutions to the requirements of the local construction industry and takes into account architectural traditions and climatic conditions.



“The construction and use of buildings play a crucial role in climate protection. With its products and system solutions for sustainable construction, BASF is significantly contributing”, says Dr. Tilman Krauch, head of BASF’s Construction Chemicals division. “We provide our customers in the construction industry with highly efficient concepts, economically and ecologically.” BASF is demonstrating the following solutions at the World Future Energy Summit.



Reduction of CO2 emissions during concrete manufacture

BASF provides the high-performance plasticizers sold under the brand name Glenium® Sky for the manufacture of concrete. They ensure that the quality of the concrete is preserved during transport, the concrete can be processed more easily at the building site on account of its fluidity and the finished concrete structures have a high strength and a long life. Furthermore, Glenium Sky lowers CO2 emissions during the production of the concrete.



Further energy savings are possible with the concrete admixtures of the Rheomatrix® brand. The additives give the concrete self-compacting properties so that mechanical and thus energy-intensive compacting can be dispensed with. You will find further information here: www.construction-chemicals.basf.com



Accelerated concrete hardening

BASF has developed a new Crystal Speed Hardening™ concept for contractors and precast producers. The core product of the concept is X-SEED® 100, a unique hardening accelerator. It helps to speed up concrete hardening significantly at early ages (6-12 hours), supporting at least double strength at low, ambient and heat curing temperatures.



It helps to save time and has a positive impact on energy efficiency by eliminating or reducing heat curing of concrete. Furthermore, it offers an attractive overall cost saving potential. You will find further information here: www.construction-chemicals.basf.com



Versatile polyurethane plastics – from the cladding of cold air pipes to coastal protection

In the Gulf region, the market segments of building and insulation offer a wide range of opportunities for the use of the polyurethane plastics Elastopor® H and Elastopir® of BASF’s Polyurethanes division. Sandwich elements, insulation boards and spray-applied foam are ideal for energy-efficient and uncomplicated construction both in the industrial sector and in private housing. Polyurethane plastics are also outstanding for cold storage insulation and for the cladding of pipes that transport cold air. You will find further information here: www.elastogran.com



Saving cooling energy by means of Neopor ® and Styrodur ® C

Neopor is an innovative material for insulating walls, roofs and floors. By virtue of inbuilt infrared absorbers, Neopor has a better insulation performance than conventional insulation materials. Calculations carried out by the Passivhaus Institute Darmstadt, Germany show that, in hot climatic zones, insulation panels made of Neopor significantly reduce overheating and the hours of active cooling. Depending on the type and design of a house, at least 40 percent of the cooling energy can be saved in this way and CO2 emissions lowered.



Further possibilities of protecting structures from heat, cold and moisture are provided by Styrodur ® C. The green extruded polystyrene foam panels with air as cell gas are characterized by a long working life and resistance to decay. They meet all necessary requirements regarding economical and ecological construction under various climatic conditions, e.g. for the insulation of floors and roofs. You will find further information here: www.neopor.de, www.styrodur.com



Energy efficiency using façade systems

BASF is also presenting wall systems under the Senergy® brand name. They consist of multiple layers for insulating and protecting exterior surfaces. These solutions make it possible to cool buildings efficiently and thus reduce the consumption of energy. You will find further information here: www.wallsystems.basf.com



Black pigments for reducing surface heat

BASF has developed the black pigments Paliogen®, Lumogen® and Sicopal® for deflecting heat from surfaces. Unlike the conventional carbon black pigments, they prevent the absorption of the invisible near infrared radiation, which accounts for more than 50% of the incident solar energy. Field tests have shown that building materials incorporating the BASF pigments store only about half as much heat as conventional materials. You will find further information here: www.basf.com/pigment



Note to editors:

Press photos are available under the following link: www.basf.com/pressphoto (Topic Navigator “Construction and Housing”)



About BASF

BASF is the world’s leading chemical company: The Chemical Company. Its portfolio ranges from chemicals, plastics and performance products to agricultural products, fine chemicals as well as oil and gas. As a reliable partner BASF helps its customers in virtually all industries to be more successful. With its high-value products and intelligent solutions, BASF plays an important role in finding answers to global challenges such as climate protection, energy efficiency, nutrition and mobility. BASF posted sales of more than €62 billion in 2008 and had approximately 97,000employees 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.