Glossary

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

B
- Blends
  
  Mixtures of different polymers. Unlike composites, they are homogeneous, or at least they appear to be. Blends are usually produced through intensive mechanical mixing of the relevant polymers in their melted state, for example through extrusion. In most cases, the aim is to create plastics with certain properties that are not exhibited by their individual components themselves.
C
- Carbon nanotubes (CNT)
  
  Tiny tube-shaped structures made of carbon atoms normally measuring between one and 50 nanometers (by comparison: a human hair has a diameter of around 80,000 nanometers). Thanks to their special properties, such as good electrical and thermal conductivity and enormous mechanical strength, carbon nanotubes can be used for a variety of purposes.
- Catalysis
  
  Initiation, acceleration or controlling of chemical reactions using other substances (= catalysts) that are not consumed by the reaction itself.
- Climate protection
  
  Measures to reduce the heating of the Earth's atmosphere caused by human activities. This includes, for example, reducing the consumption of fossil fuels. Bayer MaterialScience contributes to climate protection with lightweight plastic solutions for automotive construction and materials for the thermal insulation of buildings and the refrigeration chain. Another approach is the increased use of energy from renewable sources. Bayer MaterialScience also plays an important role in this regard, particularly in the field of wind and solar energy.
- CO₂ footprint
  
  The sum of all greenhouse gas emissions generated by a product throughout its life cycle – from manufacture, sale and utilization to disposal.
- Composites
  
  Combinations consisting of two or more materials, the properties of which differ from those of the original components. For example, fiber-reinforced polyurethane composites that combine high strength and low weight.
D
- Dispersion
  
  A mixture of two different substances that cannot be mixed with each other. This is achieved by dispersing very fine particles of one of the substances, for example a coating resin, in another substance, for example water. The particles of the solid are often too small to be seen by the naked eye. The liquid therefore appears clear.
E
- EcoCommercial Building Program (ECB)
  
  An innovative business model from Bayer MaterialScience for planning and executing commercial construction projects with integrated energy and material solutions ranging right up to the zero-emissions building. It consists of a global network of members from various disciplines to support professionals such as architects, project managers, construction managers, developers and managers of larger companies. Services range from energy efficiency assessments during the planning phase to the use of environmentally friendly materials and the generation of renewable energies. The program is part of the "Sustainable Buildings & Climate Initiative" (SBCI) of the United Nation environmental program (UNEP).
- Elastomers
  
  Plastics that can be formed elastically by applying mechanical stress, before subsequently returning to their original unformed shape. Polyurethane elastomers from Bayer MaterialScience are used, for example, in extremely abrasion-resistant tires, rollers and sealing rings.
- Electromobility
  
  A collective term for transportation via electrically powered vehicles, including the associated infrastructure equipment such as charging systems. The main aim of promoting electromobility is to reduce fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. Bayer MaterialScience offers innovative materials and solutions for electromobility – ranging from the development of roof module concepts, materials for bodywork parts, batteries and charging stations to raw materials for special adhesives and coatings.
- Extrusion
  
  A method of processing plastics, especially thermoplastics. They are heated until melting point before being squeezed through a special nozzle at high pressure and then cooled. This is how they are molded into shape – for instance, as films, strands, profiles, sheets, tubes or coatings for cables and films. The polymer granules are poured into the extruder through a funnel. They are then transported towards the nozzle via a conveying screw. Because the walls of the extruder are heated, the resulting polymer is in liquid form.
G
- Gas phase phosgenation
  
  An energy- and cost-efficient procedure developed by Bayer MaterialScience and partners for the last reaction stage in the production of isocyanates, especially TDI. Compared with the established method of performing the reaction in the fluid phase, the amount of solvent used can be reduced by around 80 percent and energy consumption by around 60 percent. Investment costs are also approximately 20 percent lower than those for conventional industrial production. Bayer MaterialScience's new TDI plant in Shanghai, with an annual capacity of 250,000 metric tons, is the first world-scale production facility to successfully use this procedure. Prior to this, the company had run a pilot facility in Dormagen for several years.
H
- Holography
  
  A technology that uses laser beams to create three-dimensional images of an object known as holograms. Besides creating fascinating optical effects, they can also be used to make ID cards and other documents forgery-proof. Bayer MaterialScience has developed a special film with a light- sensitive layer for such applications. Holographic information is "embedded" in the film using a laser beam and can then be read in different ways. Further potential applications for the future range from brand protection through electronic displays to three-dimensional TVs that do not require the use of 3D glasses.
I
- Injection molding
  
  A method of processing plastics, especially thermoplastics. It is a cost-effective way of producing large quantities of directly usable molded parts. The plastic granules are poured into the injection molding machine and being heated to the point of melting. Once a sufficient quantity of granules has been melted down, it is injected into a mold cavity, where the plastic component is given its shape and surface structure. Because the cost of the mold constitutes a substantial part of the total investment, the cost efficiency threshold is only reached once several thousand parts – or sometimes even more – have been produced. Not least due to the enormous pressures, the molds are extremely robust and can often be used to produce several million parts.
- Isocyanate
  
  One of the two main components used to produce polyurethane materials. The other is polyol. Key isocyanates include MDI and TDI. They are used to produce polyurethane rigid foam (to provide thermal insulation for buildings and insulation in the refrigeration chain) or flexible polyurethane foam (for upholstery and mattresses).
L
- Light-emitting diode (LED)
  
  Light sources with low energy consumption, low maintenance requirements and a long service life. They are therefore a particularly energy- and cost-efficient form of lighting. Bayer MaterialScience supports this type of light generation with tailor-made grades of its polycarbonate Makrolon®. Lenses made of this material ensure efficient bundling of the LED light both on and in buildings, street lamps and headlamps so that the desired area is illuminated fully.
M
- Methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI)
  
  One of the two main components used to produce polyurethane rigid foam, a material with extremely low thermal conductivity. It is used for thermal insulation in buildings and the refrigeration chain and to thermally insulate pipes.
N
- Nanotechnology
  
  A collective term for various fields of research into minuscule structures that range from the size of an individual atom to around 100 nanometers. By comparison: an average human hair has a diameter of around 80,000 nanometers. Nanotechnology is often described as one of the three key technologies of the 21st century (alongside biotechnology and robotics).
O
- Organic light-emitting diode (OLED)
  
  LEDs, OLEDs are low-energy light sources. They consist of several organic layers and are principally suited to flat applications in, for example, lighting technology and screens. Their limited service life continues to pose a challenge for industrial use.
- Oxygen depolarized cathode
  
  An energy-efficient technology developed by Bayer MaterialScience and partners for producing chlorine from hydrochloric acid or sodium chloride using electrolysis. In this process an electric current is used to trigger a chemical reaction. By feeding in gaseous oxygen at the negative pole (known as the cathode), around 30 percent less energy is required for the electrolysis process. Indirectly, CO2 emissions can also be reduced significantly. Bayer MaterialScience already uses this new technology at its production sites in Shanghai and Brunsbüttel (for the electrolysis of hydrochloric acid) and has taken into service a demonstration plant in Krefeld-Uerdingen for the recovery of chlorine from salt. The industrial production of chlorine is one of the most energy-intensive processes in the chemical industry.
P
- Photovoltaics
  
  The direct conversion of (sun) light into electrical energy using solar cells connected into solar or photovoltaic modules. Bayer MaterialScience develops various material solutions for the protection of sensitive solar cells and the simplification of manufacturing and assembly processes for solar modules.
- Plastics
  
  Synthetic high-molecular compounds (polymers) that can be used as materials. These can be compact materials, films or foams.
- Polycarbonate
  
  A crystal-clear plastic with good break and impact resistance. It is produced by Bayer MaterialScience in granulated, film or solid/multiwall sheet form. Polycarbonate was discovered by Bayer chemist Dr. Hermann Schnell in 1953 and registered as a patent in the same year. Production began in 1959. This plastic is used in the automotive, construction, electrical/electronics, IT and communications industries as well as in medical technology, optical data storage, drinking water bottles and many other products.
- Polymer
  
  A chemical compound made of linked or branched molecules also known as macromolecules. These, in turn, consist of identical or identically shaped smaller units known as monomers. Synthetic polymers, especially those based on carbon and hydrogen, are known as plastics. Mixtures of different polymers are known as blends.
- Polyol
  
  One of the two main components used to produce polyurethane materials. The other is isocyanate. Although there are relatively few marketable isocyanates, there are a whole host of polyols, polyethers, polyesters, polyether polyols and other substances. This results in a wide variety of polyurethane materials. The properties of polyurethane can be customized by choosing the right polyol components.
- Polyurethanes
  
  Plastics made of two components: a polyol and an isocyanate. Depending on the choice of components (there are, above all, a large number of polyol products on the market), the consistencies and properties of polyurethanes can vary greatly – ranging from flexible or rigid foam and elastomers to solid materials. Polyurethanes can therefore be used in upholstery, mattresses, car seats, thermal insulation for buildings and the refrigeration chain, wheels, rollers, bodywork parts, coatings, adhesives and many other products.
R
- Renewable energy
  
  Energy harnessed from sustainable, naturally replenishing sources. Examples include sun, wind, water and geothermal power. Bayer MaterialScience develops material and technological concepts aimed principally at further enhancing the efficiency of wind turbines and the cost- effective manufacture and assembly of solar modules.
S
- Systems house
  
  Normally a small or medium-sized enterprise that offers customers in various industries ready-to-use polyurethane systems and develops solutions in tandem with them. It plays an important bridging role between raw materials suppliers and manufacturers or processors of polyurethanes. Systems houses are located close to the customer and are able to respond to customer requests quickly and flexibly.
T
- Toluene diisocyanate (TDI)
  
  One of the two main components used to produce flexible polyurethane foam, large quantities of which are used in upholstery and mattresses.
- Thermoplastics
  
  Plastics that can be shaped within a certain – usually elevated – temperature range and that solidify when they cool down. They can be used, for example, in injection molding, extrusion or blow molding processes and are characteristically extremely flexible. Finished molded parts can usually be broken up mechanically, melted down and re-molded several times.
- Thermosetting Plastics
  
  Hard plastics in which the molecules are three-dimensionally crosslinked. These materials therefore cannot be formed once they have cured and, unlike thermoplastics, they cannot be melted down again. The advantages of thermosetting plastics, out of which certain polyurethanes are made, include their exceptional strength – even at somewhat elevated temperatures, and the lightweight components they produce.
- Thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPU)
  
  Plastics that, in chemical terms, are polyurethanes, but can be formed and recycled like thermoplastics.
V
- Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC)
  
  Carbon compounds that evaporate easily into the atmosphere. A distinction is normally made between naturally occurring VOC emissions – such as methane released by bogs – and man-made VOC emissions. The latter can, for instance, be caused by the industrial use of solvents in coatings, adhesives and other products. Bayer MaterialScience is working on the targeted development of polyurethane raw materials to further reduce the VOC content of coatings and adhesives – and even eliminate it completely – without compromising the properties of these substances.

Glossary

Blends

Carbon nanotubes (CNT)

Catalysis

Climate protection

CO2 footprint

Composites

Dispersion

EcoCommercial Building Program (ECB)

Elastomers

Electromobility

Extrusion

Gas phase phosgenation

Holography

Injection molding

Isocyanate

Light-emitting diode (LED)

Methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI)

Nanotechnology

Organic light-emitting diode (OLED)

Oxygen depolarized cathode

Photovoltaics

Plastics

Polycarbonate

Polymer

Polyol

Polyurethanes

Renewable energy

Systems house

Toluene diisocyanate (TDI)

Thermoplastics

Thermosetting Plastics

Thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPU)

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC)

CO₂ footprint