Bayer Plastic Sheet Designed to Meet Rail Passengers' & Industry Needs

Sheffield, MA, September 27, 2013 --(PR.com)-- Whether traveling by rail for a short, daily commute or settling in for cross-country travel, passengers have certain expectations – chief among them comfort and safety. Polycarbonate sheet products from Bayer MaterialScience LLC help satisfy these passenger demands while also being cost effective and fabrication friendly – important considerations for manufacturers of passenger rail cars.

In fact, Bayblend® MTR (mass transit rail) high-performance polycarbonate sheet and Makrolon® TG polycarbonate sheet from Bayer were developed specifically to meet the performance and cost challenges of the passenger rail car industry. Visitors to the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) Annual Meeting have the opportunity to see Bayer’s Bayblend MTR polycarbonate sheet put to use in a profile section of a passenger rail car in booth #910.

APTA’s Annual Meeting – taking place September 29 – October 2 in Chicago – focuses on the current issues facing public transportation. Bayer addresses these issues, such as stringent requirements and regulations, with its polycarbonate sheet materials for mass transit. For example, Bayblend MTR polycarbonate sheet products comply with the latest recommended levels for low flame, smoke and toxicity (FST). These regulations include U.S. Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) DOT: 49 CFR 238, Appendix B flammability and smoke emissions requirements. The materials also satisfy Bombardier Transportation Standard SMP 800-C for Toxic Gas Generation.

The Bayblend MTR polycarbonate product line, available in an array of colors and textures, offers excellent mechanical properties, including rigidity, strength and impact resistance. The material is up to 30 percent lighter weight than traditional products and can be easily fabricated.

When Makrolon TG polycarbonate sheet is used in rail glazing, it meets stringent FRA requirements for impact and ballistic performance. Additionally, the material is abrasion, chemical and UV resistant and is half the weight of glass. It can be manufactured in clear and custom tints.

According to Celeste Dunn, transportation segment manager, Bayer MaterialScience LLC, “Bayblend MTR polycarbonate can yield substantial energy savings in use, compared with other products. It weighs significantly less than PVC-based, low FST sheet and fiber-reinforced polycarbonate. Its high strength compared with PVC-based products allows for designs with thinner parts without compromising durability.”

Bayblend MTR polycarbonate readily thermoforms on tooling commonly used with other sheet materials to form passenger car interior components. It draws easily into corners, and maintains retention of design detail. These forming and fabricating advantages add to the cost effectiveness of the material.

Bayer MaterialScience manufactures Bayblend MTR and Makrolon TG polycarbonate sheet in Sheffield, Mass. The operation is part of Bayer’s global sheet business which has multiple manufacturing and technical support sites serving customers worldwide.

To learn more about Bayer MaterialScience’s materials for the railroad industry and see the rail car profile section up close, stop by Bayer’s booth #910 at the APTA Annual Meeting.

About Bayer MaterialScience LLC:
Bayer MaterialScience LLC is one of the leading producers of high-performance plastics in North America and is part of the global Bayer MaterialScience business with approximately 14,500 employees at 30 production sites around the world and 2012 sales of 11.5 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, social responsibility and respect for the environment.