New low gloss Bayblend® polycarbonate blend resin for automotive interiors:

Pittsburgh – July 16, 2008 – Automotive manufacturers constantly challenge material suppliers to develop new materials to meet automotive interior requirements that call for low gloss appearance with better scratch and mar performance, while at the same time complying with increasingly stringent emissions restrictions and eliminating the need for costly, environmentally unfriendly painting operations. To meet the needs of this demanding automotive interior market segment, Bayer MaterialScience LLC (BMS) is introducing an innovative new grade of its Bayblend® polycarbonate blend resin specifically engineered for automotive interior applications.

Bayblend LGX 300 resin is a unique polycarbonate (PC) blend inherently low in gloss and exhibiting a high melt flow, which allows it to accurately replicate different types of surface finishes and grains specified for automotive interior applications like glove box doors, cup holders, door trim, knee bolsters, console bin doors and overhead trim. In addition to lower gloss, this PC blend also offers higher heat performance, and better impact, scratch and mar resistance compared with Polyolefin (PP/TPO) materials.

“In the automotive market, OEMs are constantly looking for a low-gloss material for interior applications that can stand up to years of wear and tear and heat cycles and still look great. Bayblend LGX 300 resin was specifically developed for interior applications that specify a material that is inherently low in gloss with extra flowability, better weathering and better scratch and mar resistance,” said Prasanna Godbole, Marketing Specialist - Interiors, Automotive Products, BMS. “Another important attribute of Bayblend LGX 300 is the low-emissions formulation, which is particularly important as automotive manufacturers strive to reduce levels of VOCs in their automobiles to improve the interior environment and meet federal regulations.”

The outstanding weatherability of Bayblend LGX 300 resin also means that parts can be molded with less colorant (high let down ratio) in order to achieve UV resistance as is required for some automotive interior parts. Because LGX 300 resin is a low gloss, high-flow PC blend with better heat and impact performance, thin-wall part design can be achieved without painting. This can result in a significant cost savings for the finished part.

About Bayer MaterialScience
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 nearly 15,400 employees at 30 sites around the world and 2007 sales of 10.4 billion euros. 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, medical, and sports and leisure industries. Our inorganic basic chemicals unit produces chlorine and related essential products for the chemicals industry. Let us give life to your vision. Bayer MaterialScience – Where VisionWorks.

Bayer Corporation, headquartered in Pittsburgh, is a subsidiary of Bayer AG, an international health care, nutrition and high-tech materials group based in Leverkusen, Germany. In North America, Bayer had 2007 net sales of 8.1 billion euros and employed 16,800 at year end. Bayer’s three subgroups, Bayer HealthCare, Bayer CropScience and Bayer MaterialScience, improve people’s lives through a broad range of essential products that help diagnose, prevent and treat diseases; protect crops and enhance yields; and advance automobile safety and durability.