Bayer MaterialScience LLC Scientists Highlight Excellent Performance Characteristics and Advances in Waterborne Coatings at Industry Event

New Orleans, LA, March 04, 2011 --(PR.com)-- Bayer MaterialScience LLC will demonstrate its expertise and industry leadership in waterborne coatings technologies at the 38th Waterborne Symposium, which took place March 2-4 in New Orleans. Three Bayer MaterialScience LLC scientists made presentations at this event, which is sponsored by The University of Southern Mississippi Department of Polymer Science.

“Waterborne Polyurethane Coatings Used in Direct-to-Metal Applications,” took place 12:30 p.m., Wednesday, March 2, during the waterborne session. Bayer MaterialScience LLC’s Pete Schmitt, strategic technology manager, made the presentation, which was co-authored by Margaret Kendi, associate research scientist, Coatings, Adhesives and Specialties, and Dr. Raymond Stewart, senior R&D scientist, both of Bayer MaterialScience LLC.

Schmitt highlighted recent advances in polyurethane dispersion (PUD) chemistry and how these advances affect use of PUDs in direct-to-metal coatings. Schmitt explained that it is possible to meet the demanding requirements of the end user with the correct choices in chemistry and formulation of direct-to-metal coatings.

The next Bayer MaterialScience presentation, “Polyaspartic Coatings – Driving Green Technologies,” took place 8:30 a.m., Friday, March 4, as part of the corrosion session. Mike Jeffries, strategic technology manager, Aliphatic Isocyanates and Polyaspartics, Bayer MaterialScience LLC, explained the chemistry and properties of polyaspartic coatings, and how they can be successfully used in corrosion prevention applications. According to Jeffries, properties of the coatings – such as durability, improved return to service, reduced cycle times due to fast cure at ambient temperatures, and high film builds – make it possible for applicators to improve their overall productivity.

The final presentation, “Acrylated Allophanate Oligomers that are 100% Solids with Low Viscosity and High Functionality for DTM Applications,” took place 10 a.m., Friday, March 4, as part of the UV session. Dr. Abdullah Ekin, senior associate scientist; Bayer MaterialScience LLC, made the presentation, which was co-authored by Michael Dvorchak, strategic technology manager UV Cure Oligomers & PUDs, Government programs, Bayer MaterialScience LLC.

As Dr. Ekin explained, the coatings industry’s desire for 100 percent solids, low viscosity, high functionality coatings with exterior performance has spurred the creation of a new class of oligomers based on acrylated allophanates.

Dr. Ekin demonstrated how these oligomers give formulators the ability to minimize the amount of acrylated monomer and maximize performance of the coatings system. As a result, these coatings show promising performance in direct-to-metal applications.

Bayer MaterialScience LLC is one of the leading producers of polymers and high-performance plastics in North America and is part of the global Bayer MaterialScience business with approximately 14,300 employees at 30 production sites around the world and 2009 sales of 7.5 billion euros. The company manufactures high-tech polymer materials and develops innovative solutions for products used in many areas of daily life. The main segments served are the automotive, electrical and electronics, construction, medical, and sports and leisure industries. Sustainability is central to Bayer MaterialScience LLC’s business and is based around the key areas of innovation, product stewardship, excellence in corporate management, social responsibility and respect for the environment.

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