Products such as ethylene, propylene, butadiene and benzene are produced in steam crackers from naphtha or natural gas. Using these, we produce alcohols, solvents and plasticizers for the chemical and plastics industries. Alkylene oxides and glycols are starting materials for the detergents, automotive, packaging and textile industries. Acrylic monomers are used in the production of paints, coatings and cosmetics as well as oilfield, construction and paper chemicals. To meet specific customer demands, our specialty monomers can be ideally incorporated into the value-adding chain for acrylates and methacrylates.

Chemicals are made possible through catalysts. Our catalyst products are a vital and strategic part of chemical process technology. Catalysis is a process in which the rate of a chemical reaction is increased by a specific catalyst offering. Each heterogeneous catalyst is specific to a given process and can be tailored to provide a given set of end results – speed of reaction or process, enhanced product attributes, and the selectivity of end products. Choosing the right catalyst for the process is a critical factor for success. Catalysts play a crucial role in 90% of all commercially produced chemical products.

The BASF Group develops, produces and markets about 700 intermediates around the world. The most important of the division’s product groups include amines, diols, polyalcohols, acids and specialties. Intermediates, for example, are used as starting materials for coatings, plastics, pharmaceuticals, textile fibers, detergents and crop protectants. Innovative intermediates from BASF help to improve the properties of final products and the efficiency of production processes.

The Monomers division supplies a broad portfolio of largevolume monomers, basic polymers and inorganic chemicals. The major products include MDI (diphenylmethane diisocyanate), TDI (toluene diisocyanate), caprolactam, adipic acid, polyamide 6 and 6.6, ammonia, nitric acid, sulfur and chlorine products, inorganic salts, urea, melamine, glues and impregnating resins.