BASF has increased its global annual capacity for the production of the chemical intermediate PolyTHF (chemical name: polytetramethylene ether glycol - PTMEG) from 185,000 metric tons to 250,000 metric tons. BASF also took measures to modernize and enhance the efficiency of its plants and ensured the supply of the raw materials it needs to manufacture PolyTHF. All in all, BASF invested more than €60 million.
BASF started up its first plant manufacturing PolyTHF at its integrated Verbund site in Ludwigshafen in 1983.
PolyTHF is primarily used to make elastic spandex fibers for a large variety of textiles, including underwear, outerwear, sportswear and swimsuits. It also serves as a chemical building block for thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPU) used to make hoses, films and cable sheathing. Other applications include thermoplastic polyetheresters, polyetheramides and cast elastomers for the production of wheels for skateboards and inline skates.
