MOSCOW (MRC) -- BASF is expanding its Elastollan portfolio (TPU, thermoplastic polyurethane) to include special Food Contact (FC) grades which are suitable for use in applications involving contact with food, said the producer on its site.
The new Elastollan portfolio, which is produced using the GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) system of quality assurance, comprises numerous ether- and ester-based grades. They can be used in a wide range of injection-molding and extrusion applications - from conveyor belts, films and fabrics through to hoses.
Plastics which can come into contact with food have to meet the very highest safety and quality standards. Conveyor belts or hoses must, as plant components, not exude any critical substances which are transferred to food and can alter the taste, odor or composition of the food.
The new Elastollan FC grades from BASF comply with both the guidelines of the EU regulations governing food contact applications and the standards of the American FDA (Food and Drug Administration). They satisfy the high safety requirements of GMP (Guidance for Good Manufacturing Practice, 2023/2006/EC) - a regulation for ensuring the quality of the production processes and environment used for manufacturing materials that will come into contact with food.
In addition, since 2014 BASF has been one of the first plastics manufacturers to offer a special FC grade in its PBT (polybutylene terephthalate) range: Ultradur B 1520 FC has a high barrier to water vapor, oxygen and in particular aroma, without the need for any additional coatings. The food contact certification means that the new grade is suitable for coffee capsules and thin-walled, injection-molded packaging for food and cosmetics.
As MRC informed previously, in early September 2015, BASF began its first production of diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI) at its wholly-owned site in Chongqing, China. Production will be ramped up gradually in line with market demand. MDI is an important component for polyurethanes - an extremely versatile plastics material that contributes towards improved insulation, provides lighter materials for cars, and helps save energy in buildings. MDI production will support these key industries in China’s western areas.
BASF is the largest diversified chemical company in the world and is headquartered in Ludwigshafen, Germany. BASF produces a wide range of chemicals, for example solvents, amines, resins, glues, electronic-grade chemicals, industrial gases, basic petrochemicals and inorganic chemicals. The most important customers for this segment are the pharmaceutical, construction, textile and automotive industries. BASF had sales of over EUR74 billion in 2014 and over 113,000 employees as of the end of the year.
MRC