BASF to build high performance specialty plastics plant in Korea

The versatile specialty plastic finds also applications in the thin hollow fibers of membranes for water purification systems or in the visor of firefighter’s helmets.

BASF will build a new plant to produce Ultrason® polyethersulfone (PESU), one of BASF’s high-performance thermoplastics, at the company’s site in Yeosu, Korea. The annual capacity of the new plant is 6,000 metric tons. Construction of this specialty plastics plant will start in early 2012 and production is expected to begin by early 2014. About 50 new jobs will be created once the plant is operational.

At present this specialty plastic is only produced at BASF’s Ludwigshafen site in Germany.

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Ultrason is the trade name for the BASF product range of polyethersulfone (Ultrason® E), polysulfone (Ultrason® S), and polyphenylsulfone (Ultrason® P). The product can withstand temperatures up to 220 degrees centigrade without altering its properties and possesses outstanding chemical stability.

In addition to its use in the electronics, automotive and aerospace industry, other Ultrason applications include membranes for medical devices, hot water and food contact parts for example in espresso machines, microwave-proof dishes or baby bottles. Ultrason is also used in the production of carbon fiber composite materials.

More information: www.basf.com

BASF SE, Ludwigshafen, Germany