Bayer MaterialScience

Investment in research and development at Bayer MaterialScience in 2007 came to €209 million, not including the company’s joint development activities with customers. This was 8.1 percent of the Bayer Group’s r&d spending. The Polycarbonates business unit strives to develop new formulations and applications for its products and continually improve its manufacturing processes.

Currently, the main areas of innovation in the Polyurethanes business unit are the development of new and improved polyether polyol types and the improvement of manufacturing processes for polyols and aromatic isocyanates. The Coatings, Adhesives, Specialties business unit focuses its research and development activities on developing polyurethane raw materials for the formulation of high performance coatings, adhesives and sealants.

The research activities of the Thermoplastic Polyurethanes business unit are directed toward the development of high-performance thermoplastic polyurethane resin granules and film products. Other examples from the company’s materials research include:

• holographic data storage media: development of data storage media with a capacity of 300 gb per firstgeneration disc;
• polyurethane systems: polyurethane foam systems for laying railroad ballast beds that reduce train noise levels;
• tpu granules and film:_ solar-module films with very high transparency and uv stability.

The New Business section of MaterialScience constantly tracks and evaluates new technological and market trends, channeling the most promising ideas into research and development projects in order to create profitable business opportunities for the future or expand existing technology platforms.

• Bayblend® - Brand name for polymer blends based on polycarbonate and acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene
• Baydur® - Polyurethane integral-skin foam and molding systems for appliance housings, medical equipment, sports goods, sanitary items and furniture
• Bayflex® - Family of elastic polyurethane systems with customizable properties for a range of applications
• Baysystems® - Global polyurethane system partners
• Desmodur®/Desmophen® - Raw materials for automotive and industrial coatings, anti-corrosion systems and floor coatings
• Desmopan® - Thermoplastic polyurethanes for a wide variety of high-tech applications
• Makrolon® - Transparent, impact-resistant polycarbonate for CDs, DVDs, automotive applications, architectural glazing, electrical and electronic applications
• Multitec® - Innovative polyurethane spray system for large-area parts