BASF Podcast - World's longest railway tunnel thanks to construction chemicals

Ludwigshafen (ots) - The new edition of BASF's innovation podcast
"Chemistry of Innovations" talks about the applications of
construction chemicals for extreme conditions. With the help of
innovative chemistry it's possible to add special properties to
concrete.

In the construction process of the Swiss Gotthard Base Tunnel,
which will one day be the longest train tunnel in the world, concrete
has to fulfill conflicting requirements: On the one hand wet concrete
must not harden while being transported through the mountain for
several kilometers, on the other it has to harden in an instant, when
being sprayed onto the tunnel wall. Additives to concrete uses such
as accelerators and plasticizers make it possible. In addition, a
sprayable fire protection mortar prevents concrete from exploding
when being exposed to temperatures above 500 degrees Celsius.

Podcast Chemistry of Innovations, English edition:
www.basf.com/podcast
Podcast Chemie der Innovationen, German edition
www.basf.de/podcast

Pictures available at our photo data base:
corporate.basf.com/en/presse/fotos/?stichwort=Construction+Chemicals

More information: BASF's Underground Construction Group, UGC
International http://www.ugc.basf.com/DCCUGC/EN/ BASF Admixture
Systems UK www.basf-cc.co.uk/BASF-CCUK/AS/ BASF Admixture Systems
NAFTA www.basf-admixtures.com/

More podcasts: Podcast The Chemical Reporter: www.basf.com/podcast
In these entertaining weekly episodes our Chemical Reporter answers
questions on Chemistry in our everyday life.

The use of the audio material is royalty-free. If you want to use
the audio material, please send an email to podcast@basf.com.

BASF is the world's leading chemical company: The Chemical
Company. Its portfolio ranges from chemicals, plastics, performance
products, agricultural products and fine chemicals to crude oil and
natural gas. As a reliable partner to virtually all industries,
BASF?s high-value products and intelligent system solutions help its
customers to be more successful. BASF develops new technologies and
uses them to meet the challenges of the future and open up additional
market opportunities. It combines economic success with environmental
protection and social responsibility, thus contributing to a better
future. BASF has approximately 95,000 employees and posted sales of
?52.6 billion in 2006. BASF shares are currently traded on the stock
exchanges in Frankfurt (BAS), London (BFA), New York (BF) and Zurich
(AN). Further information on BASF is available on the Internet at
www.basf.com.

Originaltext: BASF Podcast englisch
Digitale Pressemappe: http://www.presseportal.de/pm/67695
Pressemappe via RSS : feed://www.presseportal.de/rss/pm_67695.rss2

Editorial contact:
Rainer Mueller-Mueffelmann
Corporate Innovation Communications
Phone: +49 621 60-41040
Fax: +49 621 60-20548
rainer.mueller-mueffelmann@basf.com