- Higher efficiency in battery production is enabled by narrow specifications
- Smaller packaging sizes tailored to customer needs
- 95 years of Oppanol® at BASF
Ludwigshafen, June 8, 2026 – BASF introduces Oppanol® N PLUS, a new high-performance binder for the next generation of electric vehicle (EV) batteries. The product will be presented at The Battery Show Europe in Stuttgart, Germany, from June 9 to 11, 2026, in Hall 5, booth A20.
Credit: BASF
In 1931 BASF filed the patent for the manufacturing of Polyisobutene, which was sold under the product name Oppanol. The picture shows the cooling unit of the Oppanol plant at the Ludwigshafen site in 1952
With the transition to new battery technologies, particularly solid-state batteries (SSB), material requirements are increasing significantly. This next generation of batteries enables longer driving ranges, faster charging times, and enhanced safety – while placing the highest demands on the performance and reliability of all components used.
Setting new standards for battery performance and process reliability
Oppanol N PLUS is based on BASF’s proven polyisobutene (PIB) technology and has been specifically engineered for modern battery concepts. As a binder, it plays a central role in the cathode, anode, or electrolyte by reliably holding the individual components together while keeping them effectively separated.
Thanks to its high elasticity and extensibility, the material compensates for mechanical stress during charging and discharging, thus significantly contributing to battery lifetime and stability. At the same time, Oppanol is chemically inert, preventing unwanted side reactions.
A key feature of Oppanol N PLUS is its exceptionally high and consistent product quality with very narrow specifications. This enables:
- reduced variability in production processes
- less need for reformulation at the customer
- lower quality control efforts
- faster and more stable process adjustments.
In addition, BASF offers enhanced services: customers benefit from particularly fresh material supplied directly from stock, as well as more flexible delivery options with smaller packaging sizes starting at 20 kilograms. This supports battery manufacturers and OEMs in efficiently implementing the next generation of high-performance and reliable batteries for e-mobility.
“With Oppanol N PLUS, BASF combines decades of expertise with the requirements of tomorrow’s e-mobility. The new product exemplifies the company’s commitment to continuously advancing proven materials and actively shaping the transition to sustainable technologies,” said Madeleine Jordan, Global Business Management, Oppanol at BASF.
95 years of Oppanol® – proven performance meets future technology
The launch of Oppanol N PLUS coincides with a milestone year: 95 years ago, BASF laid the foundation for polyisobutene technology.
In 1931, Michael Otto first demonstrated that isobutene can be polymerized under suitable conditions – a breakthrough that led to the development of the Oppanol product family. In the same year, BASF filed a patent for a process to manufacture PIB. The product was later named “Oppanol” after the Ludwigshafen district of Oppau, where it was first developed. It took another seven years of research and development before Oppanol could be produced on an industrial scale. In 1938, production began at the newly built Oppanol plant – marking the start of the polymer’s global success.
From the outset, Oppanol fascinated researchers and users alike with its unique property profile: it is transparent, impermeable to water and a wide range of gases, resistant to chemicals, physiologically harmless, and adhesive. Today, Oppanol is used worldwide in a broad range of applications, including chewing gum, adhesive bandages, insulating glass windows, cable insulation, roofing membranes, pipeline coatings, and modern battery technologies. It also stands for exceptional durability, chemical stability, and reliable performance.