Material and Process Advancements for Automotive Interiors from Bayer MaterialScience Help Automakers Create Individualized Experiences

Pittsburgh, PA, June 04, 2015 --(PR.com)-- Personalization is a significant trend in consumer design as people seek individualized experiences from the telephones in their pockets to the vehicles they drive. Automotive interior designers must feature improved functionality and an elegant, luxurious appearance.

To appeal to consumers, automotive OEMs are seeking low-gloss, durable materials that eliminate painting during manufacturing yet maintain pleasing aesthetics for many years. Automotive OEMs and Tier suppliers are also seeking streamlined component fabrication processes to achieve improved productivity and cost efficiencies.

As a leading raw materials supplier to the automotive industry Bayer MaterialScience LLC is developing new materials and processes to meet these challenges. Bayer experts shared recent advancements during the Plastics in Motion Automotive Plastics Conference and Exhibit (June 1-4) in Dearborn, Michigan.

Dr. Marina A. Rogunova, principal scientist, Bayer MaterialScience, presented Inherently low-gloss Bayblend for automotive interior applications at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, June 3, during the Plastics in Automotive Interiors, Exteriors and Engine Compartment session. Rogunova shared details on the development and properties of a low-gloss polycarbonate blend that is an easy-to-process alternative to polypropylene (PP). The material grade, Bayblend® LGX 300 resin, is a polycarbonate blend with inherently low gloss and high flow that allows it to accurately replicate different types of surface finishes and achieve gloss levels significantly lower than the materials targeted for displacing PP by automotive OEMs.

At 3:15 p.m. Wednesday, June 3, Jessee McCanna, principal engineer, Bayer MaterialScience LLC, presented Direct Coating / Direct Skinning (DCDS) technology as part of the Innovations in Manufacturing and Assembly session. He explained how DCDS combines standard injection molding with reaction injection molding in a single mold, utilizing a polycarbonate-based substrate with a polyurethane coating or aliphatic (or aromatic) self-skinning foam. The integration of the two processes can reduce the overall part cost, compared with current manufacturing methods, while increasing quality, performance, design freedom, and product differentiation.

About Bayer MaterialScience LLC:
With 2014 sales of EUR 11.7 billion, Bayer MaterialScience is among the world’s largest polymer companies. Business activities are focused on the manufacture of high-tech polymer materials and the development of innovative solutions for products used in many areas of daily life. The main segments served are the automotive, electrical and electronics, construction and sports and leisure industries. Bayer MaterialScience has 30 production sites around the globe and employed approximately 14,200 people at the end of 2014. Bayer MaterialScience is a Bayer Group company. Sustainability is central to the company’s business and is based around the key areas of innovation, product stewardship, social responsibility and respect for the environment.