PolyTHF® plant at the Ludwigshafen site
BASF is globally the most important supplier of polytetrahydrofuran (PolyTHF®). This multifaceted intermediate is primarily used to make elastic spandex fibers for a wide variety of textiles, including swimsuits, sportswear, underwear and outerwear.
PolyTHF® also serves as a chemical building block for thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPU), used to make hoses, films and cable sheathing mainly for the automotive industry. Other applications include thermoplastic polyetheresters, polyetheramides and cast elastomers for the production of (for example) wheels for skateboards and inline skates.