BASF's Elastolit® Polyurethane (PU) Innovative Materials Solution Helps 5G Network Deployment in China. AHHY Composite Materials Co., Ltd. (Huike) uses Elastolit to make 60 communication towers, which are distributed in Beijing, Suzhou, Heilongjiang and Jiangxi.
AHHK general manager Dong Qiaonan said: "The peak data rate of 5G networks can reach 100 times the current 4G network, and it will become the backbone of the development of advanced technologies such as smart cities in China and autonomous driving and industrial automation. To ensure the rapid and stable 5G network Operation, robust infrastructure including communication towers is essential. "
Compared with traditional concrete or steel-based materials, communication towers made of Elastolit® are lighter in weight and can be quickly installed even in remote areas, while being able to withstand severe weather such as heavy snow and strong winds.
Andy Postlethwaite, Global Senior Vice President of Performance Materials, Asia Pacific, said: "5G base stations carrying transmission equipment and antennas must remain strong under severe weather conditions. The 35-meter-high communication tower made of BASF PU composites weighs About 1,500 to 1,800 kilograms, and its breaking strength is ten times its own weight. "
Moreover, communication towers made of Elastolit® are more cost-effective than traditional steel towers. Elastolit® is rust and corrosion resistant and requires less maintenance. The surface is covered with a specially formulated UV-resistant coating to extend its service life. At the same time, it has fire resistance and can self-extinguish quickly.
In addition to communication towers, Elastolit® is also used to make utility poles. In 2018, AHHK helped install 30 ultra-lightweight power poles in Anhui Province, which suffered from snow disaster, and successfully restored power within 20 hours.