BASF offers potent insulation solution
01 May 2012
BASF has upgraded its high-performance insulating material Neopor product range – an economical solution for insulating flat roofs – to provide one of the best rated thermal conductivity values for expandable polystyrene (EPS) while ensuring efficient use of material.
As per current German standards, with Neopor Plus it is possible to achieve a thermal conductivity of 0.031 W per m K with bulk densities of less than 20 kg per cu m, says a spokesman for BASF.
“By comparison, the thermal conductivity of standard white EPS of a similar bulk density is markedly inferior at 0.035 W per m K,” says Gregor Haverkemper, product management for Neopor at BASF.
“With the combination of the properties of Neopor Plus – high compressive strength coupled with low thermal conductivity – we offer along with our partners a product that is optimised for insulating flat roofs,” he says.
The material is a cost-efficient solution for insulating flat roofs when sealed with an average compressive stress (DAA dm) in accordance with DIN V 4108-10 with a load of 100 kilopascals, according to BASF.
“In general, EPS offers a persuasive choice compared with other insulating materials for flat roof insulation: When water infiltrates, draining and sealing are possible without any problems; and no irritant dusts are released during processing. Particularly when designing a sloping roof for the purpose of draining off surface water, it is advisable to use EPS insulation panels and insulation panels made from Neopor, which can be customised to fit any desired slope,” he explains.
External thermal insulation composite systems (ETICS) however remain the most widespread application of Neopor insulating materials. Neopor Plus offers advantages when it is used in ETICS, thanks to its improved insulating performance that allows a lower thickness of panel and thus greater flexibility for planners and architects, Haverkemper adds.
The silver-gray Neopor gets its colour and special performance capability thanks to the addition of particles of graphite. Compared with a white EPS insulating material, Neopor offers a level of insulating performance which is up to 20 per cent better, he claims.
BASF introduced Neopor onto the market more than 10 years ago. Following its successful launch in all European countries, the material has also received a good response in the US and in the emerging Asian markets. Only recently, Neopor was presented with a prize at the Second Green Construction Technology and Building Materials Awards co-hosted by the Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs of Korea. The accolade was presented at the Kyunghyang Housing Fair, the biggest building materials and construction exhibition held in Korea early this year. “This means that the silver-gray insulation panels made from Neopor are also becoming the standard choice globally for facade insulation,” Haverkemper states.
Neopart contains special graphite particles that reflect heat radiation like a mirror. These insulating materials meet the standards for passive house construction and in warm climatic zones also save at least 30 per cent of cooling energy for residential buildings.
