Hyundai Motor Company ’s Ulsan plant will exclusively use BASF ’s Elastoflex® polyurethane foam system (PU) to produce car seats. This high-elastic polyurethane foam is a low-volatile organic compound (VOC) solution that is mainly used in automotive applications such as seats and headrests. Compared with traditional foam plastics, BASF Elastoflex® has better comfort, elasticity and load-bearing properties.
Andy Postlethwaite, Senior Vice President, Asia Pacific, BASF Performance Materials, said: "The primary goal of automotive OEMs is to reduce VOC emissions and improve driving comfort. BASF focuses on improving Elastoflex® solutions to meet rapidly changing markets Trends and needs, while maintaining excellent mechanical properties of the material, ensuring excellent performance and flexible design. "
To meet the strictest emission control regulations, BASF has optimized its polyol production process to produce Elastoflex® elastic polyurethane foam for high-comfort seats. After optimizing the production process, BASF can produce low-cost, low-VOC special polyols.
The test results of SGS Korea, the world's leading testing agency, show that the acetaldehyde and formaldehyde emissions of the new solution have been reduced by more than 30%, which helps to improve the air quality in the car and improve the health of car drivers. The field test also shows that the newly developed polyurethane system has good fluidity, thus improving the production line productivity and reducing the product defect rate.
Bao Leiwei added: "In order to meet the growing demand for low-VOC solutions in various industries and applications, BASF has also expanded its polyol production capacity in Ulsan by 13,000 tons. Other important customers overseas have provided a stable product supply. "
Brian Seo of BASF ’s Korea Transportation and Industrial Business Management Department said: "We are very pleased to work with our long-term partner Hyundai Motor Company to jointly explore innovative low-VOC solutions for the automotive industry. This cooperation is based on our technical expertise and material innovation It is another example of successful cooperation between the two sides. "
In addition, Hyundai Motor Group, which accounts for more than 80% of the Korean automotive market, is also developing the application of this material on car roofs and steering wheels.