More safety, better health: Basotect^® as sound absorber in innovative air filters

• AirtubeUVC air filters by UVCclean deactivate viruses and bacteria in the air using UV-C technology
• Efficient, simple and quiet air purification in schools, offices, restaurants, waiting rooms and production facilities
• BASF melamine resin foam Basotect^® shows outstanding sound absorption, flame retardance and design possibilities

The air purification specialist UVCclean, Germany now uses the BASF melamine resin foam Basotect^® as sound absorber in its mobile airtubeUVC air filter systems. These filters use UV-C technology to lower the concentration of aerosols that transmit bacteria, spores and viruses such as the coronavirus in the air. They can be installed in schools, kindergartens, offices and restaurants, as well as at hairdressers, in waiting rooms, hotel lobbies, conference rooms and production facilities.

Thanks to its excellent sound absorption properties, its resistance to UV light and fire as well as its many design possibilities, Basotect^® is used in various versions of the air filters, both in the interior and on the outside as colored cover. The tailored acoustic elements are made by Bosig, manufacturer of acoustic systems from Gingen, Germany.

Excellent noise reduction

The room air is sucked in by the airtubeUVC filters and exposed to short-wave UV-C light in a shielded stainless steel cylinder. Because radiant energy in this waveband has a germicidal effect, viruses, bacteria, mites and mold spores are killed quickly. At the same time, the air filters are very quiet so that technical rules for workplaces can be complied with and noise emissions that have a negative impact on teamwork are prevented. BASF’s Basotect^® plays a key role in this thanks to its outstanding noise reduction properties: The 80 series of the airtubeUVC, which is covered with colored Basotect^® sound absorbers, generates a noise level of max. 38 decibels (measured at a distance of one meter when running at full capacity). In comparison, conventional vacuum cleaners or kettles produce around 70 decibels.

“Our air filters can be used wherever people come together, the recommended minimum distance cannot be adhered to or a mask is sometimes a hindrance,” said Hartmut Weinreich, head of technology at UVCclean. “They considerably lower the risk of infection: Scientific studies have shown a high level of effectiveness in reducing dangerous microorganisms such as coronaviruses when the UV-C technology is used in line with the manufacturer’s recommendations. The devices are also quiet, highly efficient and safe – and this also thanks to Basotect^®, which has convinced us with its outstanding sound absorption, its flame retardance and the many design options it offers.”

Basotect^® G+ for construction and industrial applications

The inherently flame retardant melamine resin foam Basotect^® is easy to process and shape: It is light, flexible and dimensionally stable at the same time, and displays excellent color stability and a high level of light reflection. In other airtubeUVC models, UVCclean uses the light grey Basotect^® G+ in different shapes inside the filters, where it makes a key contribution to both the filtration effect and noise absorption. Basotect^® G+ is less susceptible to dirt as a result of its color, making it the ideal choice for construction and industrial applications. “Until now, many air filter manufacturers have been using conventional foams for optimizing acoustics,” said Dietmar Wingerath from the European Basotect^® sales team. “By using Basotect^®, the airtubes set new standards in terms of safety, hygiene and noise protection. The air filters are another example of just how versatile our melamine resin foam is: It can be adapted to innovative solutions and, in doing so, helps companies in different industries address the challenges we are faced with as a society.”

More information about Basotect^®: www.basotect.basf.com

More information about the air filters: https://uvcclean.de/en/

 

About BASF’s Performance Materials division

BASF’s Performance Materials division encompasses the entire material know-how of BASF regarding innovative, customized plastics under one roof. Globally active in four major industry sectors – transportation, construction, industrial applications and consumer goods – the division has a strong portfolio of products and services combined with a deep understanding of application-oriented system solutions. Key drivers of profitability and growth are our close collaboration with customers and a clear focus on solutions. Strong capabilities in R&D provide the basis to develop innovative products and applications. In 2021, the Performance Materials division achieved global sales of €7.29 billion. More information: www.plastics.basf.com.

 

About BASF

At BASF, we create chemistry for a sustainable future. We combine economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. Around 111,000 employees in the BASF Group contribute to the success of our customers in nearly all sectors and almost every country in the world. Our portfolio comprises six segments: Chemicals, Materials, Industrial Solutions, Surface Technologies, Nutrition & Care and Agricultural Solutions. BASF generated sales of €78.6 billion in 2021. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchange in Frankfurt (BAS) and as American Depositary Receipts (BASFY) in the U.S. Further information at www.basf.com.

 

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