BASF expands product potential of Infinergy® high-performance materials (E-TPU), develops more shades

Product design, like in life, is rarely just black and white
.
Colors add visual variety and help differentiate items in the marketplace
.

BASF 's Infinergy® granular foam has been technically treated as its application increases
.
The material was originally only available in white and then black, but BASF is now working with brands to develop more shades
.
Infinergy® is the world's first expanded thermoplastic polyurethane (E-TPU) for its high elasticity and durability
.
Such beads can be used in many technical applications, including treadmills, bicycle tires and saddles, tennis rackets, sports floors, and more
.

In the fashion world, Infinergy® is used in footwear for improved performance and resilience
.
Infinergy® first launched in footwear alongside Adidas' Boost sneakers, but it has since expanded beyond the athletic category
.
For example, Hotter Shoe Factory adds Infinergy® to casual and formal footwear to provide comfortable cushioning
.
Adidas uses Infinergy® in the midsole, while Hotter's Cushion+ technology with Infinergy® is concentrated in the sole, with Infinergy® inserts for added comfort
.

"Infinergy® is best used in the sports and leisure sector, but due to the innovative nature of the material, it can also be used in many other applications outside the sports and leisure industry," said Dr.
Jens Peter Dierssen, Director of Global Business Management for Infinergy® at BASF
.

In addition to footwear, Infinergy® can also be used in flooring such as sports stadiums and commercial spaces
.
This stretchy material can also be found under professional turf and on playgrounds, where its elastic properties protect children from injury
.

When used on bicycle tires and saddles, Infinergy® allows for a smoother ride by absorbing impact from the ground
.
For tires, foam can replace air, creating a puncture-resistant wheel
.

As Infinergy® uses more and more, BASF first expanded the material's color options with black foam
.
Black beads can help brands achieve a classic, sleek design aesthetic, but they're also ideal for dust-prone applications or surfaces
.

To expand from black and white to color, pigments can be added during production, or a coating can be applied to the finished product
.
Colors are subject to availability, but some shades currently in development include orange, blue, red and pink
.
BASF is also creating multi-color options, such as combinations of blue and pink beads
.

Jens Peter Dierssen said: "We want to offer our customers a variety of options
.
"

Mitigating Infinergy® 's Impact on Sustainability

As Infinergy® expands its range of color options, BASF is also leading the shift towards more sustainable products by developing alternative raw materials
.
This is in line with market demands, and when BASF asks customers about their sustainability priorities, bio-based content and recycling become popular
.

BASF's ChemCycling™ project chemically recycles waste plastics into pyrolysis oil, which can be used as a feedstock for new plastics, replacing some of the fossil fuels in production
.
The resulting recycled plastic has the same properties as plastic made from virgin fossil fuels
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Bio-based inputs can also replace fossil fuel materials in production without changing the properties of the finished product
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BASF is using mass balance to connect and distribute regenerative or bio-based inputs to specific products at the consumer level
.

Infinergy® can be recycled in the post-industrial and post-consumer stages
.
Since it is a thermoplastic material, the waste produced during the production of Infinergy® can always be used for new applications
.
This reuse prevents plastic from being landfilled or incinerated
.

Jens Peter Dierssen said: "The Infinergy® team has been continuously working on sustainable initiatives to ensure that the material retains its high performance but is recyclable
.
"