|
Pioneering Plastics – Protecting Heroes
Any computer older than 50 years is best kept in a technology museum. And a car that has survived for more than half a century may still impress fans of veteran vehicles, but even they would opt for a more up-to-date model for everyday use.
Makrolon® too is now more than five decades old. It was on October 17, 1953, that Bayer submitted the newly developed plastic for patenting. However, unlike the majority of products from the industrial age, Makrolon® is far from being a museum piece. On the contrary, the high-tech polycarbonate from Bayer MaterialScience has pretty much taken over the world. In fact, hardly a year goes by without new applications for Makrolon® being unveiled.
This is due to the fact that Makrolon® is so versatile. Depending on which additives are used during production, Makrolon® can, for example, be as transparent as window glass or completely opaque. Key characteristics like resistance to weathering, impact resistance and heat resistance can also be precisely controlled.
Makrolon®'s exceptional success story shows that the courage to explore new research avenues pays dividends. In this case, it was Bayer chemist Dr. Hermann Schnell who ignored the prevailing scientific opinion of the day and attempted to develop plastics from carbonates. His persistent efforts were eventually crowned with success.
The invention of Makrolon® was an important milestone in Bayer's history. The material has achieved unique levels of success in crash helmets and safety goggles, automotive technology, architecture, sport, medical technology, consumer goods and as a storage medium in the fields of consumer electronics and software. Bayer MaterialScience intends to add more chapters to this material's success story, fully aware of how important the power of innovation is for a company on today's market.
|
