Bayer Materialscience Explores Health Testing and Performance Advantages of Polyaspartic Coatings


Pittsburgh, February 6, 2008 - In addition to its broad portfolio of polyurethane and polyurea coatings, Bayer MaterialScience (BMS) LLC also offers a breadth of expertise in one of the latest developments in coatings technology: polyaspartic coatings. The most recent advances in polyaspartic coating technology have concentrated on achieving low, or near-zero VOC coatings. In addition to this breakthrough benefit, polyaspartic coatings have a unique, adjustable reactivity with the capability for fast-curing that can provide significant, money-saving productivity improvements, along with good outdoor weathering, high gloss retention and excellent corrosion resistance.

Edward Conrad, principal industrial hygienist, Product Safety and Regulatory Affairs, BMS, gave an overview of the advantages of polyaspartic coatings, as well as discussed three air monitoring case studies that examine the industrial hygiene testing of the coatings in customer spray applications in his presentation: Polyaspartic Ester Coatings Technology for Shop and Field Applications. Conrad gave the presentation at the recent 2008 Paint and Coatings Expo.

The results of all three air monitoring case studies outlined in Conrad's presentation concluded that proper ventilation used in conjunction with standard safety equipment - including air purifying respirators and eye and skin protection - resulted in very low exposure to measured levels of airborne isocyanates and polyaspartic esters.

To conduct the testing, BMS developed a method to analyze the isocyanate monomer, polyisocyanates and polyaspartic ester levels in field applications by identifying and quantifying each component individually from a single sample. The results in all three cases studies indicated exposure levels below any existing limits or guidelines for the air contaminants tested.

Polyaspartic coatings allow the formulator the flexibility to control the rate of reaction and cure, providing the option to formulate a mixture with a potlife ranging from five minutes to two hours. In most cases, the application of polyaspartic coatings can be done with standard spray equipment, and in many instances a single coat is all that's required. Polyaspartic coatings are often used as a topcoat due to their non-yellowing nature, and the coatings also block ultraviolet light from discoloring undercoats. The coatings can be applied to a wide range of substrates in both low-temperature and high humidity environments, and the finished topcoat will bend on a metal substrate without damage.

"Polyaspartic technology is similar to 2-component aliphatic polyurethane coatings in its applications and performance characteristics, but with noteworthy advantages including the ability to be formulated to higher solids and applied at higher film builds," said Conrad. "The advantages of polyaspartic technology, compounded with the proven health safety of these materials, make polyaspartic coatings an excellent option for coating applications."

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 14,900 employees at 30 sites around the world and 2006 sales of 10.2 billion euros from continuing operations. Our innovative developments in coatings, adhesive and sealant raw materials, polycarbonates, polyurethanes and thermoplastic urethane elastomers enhance the design and functionality of products in a wide variety of markets, including the automotive, construction, electrical and electronics, household and medical industries, and the sports and leisure fields. 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 innovative materials group based in Leverkusen, Germany. In North America, Bayer had 2006 net sales of 7.8 billion euros and employed 17,200 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 prevent and treat diseases; protect crops and enhance yields; and advance automobile safety and durability.

Contact:
Tom Erdner, Phone: 412-777-5200
E-mail: Thomas.Erdner@bayerbms.com

For more information about Bayer MaterialScience's coatings, adhesives and sealants, call 1-800-662-2927, e-mail naftainfo@bayerbms.com or visit www.bayermaterialsciencenafta.com.

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