1953

Polycarbonate - a transparent, virtually unbreakable plastic - is discovered at Bayer by Dr. Hermann Schnell and his team in Bayer‘s R&D laboratories.

The official patent is granted on Oct. 16, 1953.

 

1955

The polycarbonate discovered by Hermann Schnell and his team is registered under the brand name „Makrolon®“ on April 2, 1955

 

1958

Bayer starts producing Makrolon® polycarbonate on an industrial scale in

Uerdingen, Germany.

The great insulating effect of Makrolon® leads to its popularity in the electrical

industry for applications such as telephone housings.

 

1959

Makrolon® polycarbonate is used in electrically-insulating films.

 

1960

Makrolon® is used for „bubble lights“ on emergency vehicles, such as police,

fire and ambulance vehicles.

 

1963

Makrolon® polycarbonate is widely used for kitchenware and camping

utensils, due to its strength and impact resistance.

In a comprehensive market survey, 88 percent of respondents said that

plastics will become an important component of everyday life.

 

1964

Makrolon® Polycarbonate is used in a wide variety of products ranging from

electrical plugs and switchboards to milk jugs and fishing rod reels.

 

1967

Bayer presents the world‘s first functional car made of plastic - at the K Fair in

Hannover, Germany.

The registration number of the K67 car is LEV-K-67.

 

1970

The first flame-retardant polycarbonate is produced with C4-salt (potassium

perfluorobutanesulfonate) technology.

 

1971

The cognac-colored tint of Makrolon® polycarbonate is eliminated. The new

material is clear as glass, allowing natural daylight to flood into rooms.

Solid and multiwall Makrolon® sheets are lightweight and more impact-resistant

than glass. Polycarbonate sheets are used in products ranging from police

riot shields to transparent panels used in conservatories and greenhouses.

 

1972

Bayer unveils its Bayblend® (PC+ABS) blend at K Fair

 

1976

Bayer begins to market polycarbonate blends, which contain Makrolon® and

another plastic. The first trade name is Bayblend®.

Polycarbonate resins and blends from Bayer help bring medical and healthcare

applications to life, such as kidney dialysis housings made of Makrolon®.

 

1978

Prototypes of extruded multi-wall sheet evolves for light weight and weather

protection.

 

1979

Pocan PC+PBT, now a Makroblend® grade, was developed in 1979.

The Triumph TR 7 is the first car to feature a thermoplastic bumper. The front

bumper is made of what is now Makroblend® (PC+PET, PC+PBT) blend.

 

1981

The first prototype music CD is developed in collaboration with PolyGram -

a joint venture between Philips and Siemens.

 

1982

PolyGram begins large-scale production of music CDs made from Makrolon®

polycarbonate.

Birth of first audio CD: Aug. 17, 1982

A variation of that same Makrolon® polycarbonate grade is still the base

material for all optical storage media today.

 

1985

A new type of extruded multi-wall sheet enables transparent daylighting and

vertical overhead glazing as well as other applications.

In 1985 and 1986 during the restoration of the main train station in Cologne,

the 13,500 m² (145,312 feet²) glass roof was replaced with Makrolon® polycarbonate

sheet.

 

1986

Because of its high light transmission, good weather stability and outstanding

impact strength, polycarbonate sheet gains popularity in the construction industry

for roofing in sport stadiums and railroad stations.

A new Makrolon® polycarbonate roof is installed at the Ulrich-Haberland-Stadion

soccer stadium. Today it is known as BayArena.

 

1987

Makrolon® polycarbonate is increasingly used for a variety of medical devices,

including blood oxygenators, blood reservoirs, blood filters and kidney dialysis

cartridges.

 

1988

Apec® high-heat polycarbonate, which can tolerate temperatures as high as

200 degrees Celsius, is introduced.

The first generation of flame-retardant Bayblend® FR (PC+ABS; PC+ASA) is

available.

Bayblend® FR is used in electrical, IT and electronics applications, such as

computer monitor housings.

 

1989

Security professionals rely on the high-performance properties of Makrolon®

polycarbonate for field and tactical gear.

 

1992

Polycarbonate headlamps are approved for use in Europe‘s automotive industry.

Previous use in the U.S. and Japan developed in the late 1980s.

Ford‘s CDW „World Car“ utilizes Bayer Apec® high-heat polycarbonate in the

inner lens of its headlight.

 

1993

The second generation of flame retardant Bayblend® (PC+ABS, PC+ASA) FR

2000 series debuts which features improved processing capabilities.

The five-gallon returnable polycarbonate water bottle arrives in Europe.

It is already a common sight in the United States.

Polycarbonate CD-R recordable discs enter the market.

 

1994

The Opel Omega is the first car in Europe to have Makrolon® polycarbonate

headlights.

Braun Medical Inc. produces the SAFESITE needle-free injection intravenous

connection system from transparent, lipid-resistant Makrolon®, employing the

injection molding process.

 

1996

Polycarbonate DVDs, offering seven times the storage capacity of music CDs,

are introduced.

Makrolon® Hygard laminated polycarbonate sheet for security applications

was launched.

 

1998

Makrolon® polycarbonate AG grade for automotive glazing and Makrolon®

polycarbonate AL grade for automotive lighting are introduced.

 

1999

A new lipid-resistant polycarbonate is introduced at Medtec fair in Amsterdam.

Bayer debuts its third generation of flame-retardant Bayblend® (PC+ABS,

PC+ASA) FR3000 series which is resistant to juicing.

 

2000

Bayer signs its first co-branding agreements, under which partner companies

that use Makrolon® in Europe will label their products with the words „Made

of Makrolon®.“

Intercity trains in Germany feature a Makrolon® logo, while other trains feature

a Bayer cross or Aspirin Plus C logo.

 

2002

Between 1982 and 2001, 110 billion optical discs were molded from polycarbonate

worldwide. Stacked one on top of the other, these CDs would make a

tower 132,000 km (82,020 miles) high or about one third of the distance to the

moon!

Of the 110 billion optical discs, 20 billion CDs, CD-ROMs and DVDs were

molded from Makrolon® polycarbonate.

In 2002 alone, some 0.5 billion liters of drinking water was transported in new

Makrolon® polycarbonate water bottles, which is equivalent to the volume of

water the river Rhine pours into Lake Constance in a period of about 23 minutes.

 

2003

Bayer celebrates 50 years of its revolutionary Makrolon® polycarbonate.

 

2005

The first colored CDs debut in Europe.

The Rinspeed Senso - the first concept car to ever take an active role in

reducing traffic accidents as a result of tired or angry drivers - features several

Bayer materials.

 

2006

Webasto AG utilizes polycarbonate glazing, featuring transparent Makrolon®

AG2677, for a vehicle‘s solar panel-integrated roof. Polycarbonate glazing

makes a key contribution to achieving longer driving ranges for electric

vehicles by offsetting the heavy weight of electric vehicle batteries.

The world premiere of the “zaZen” concept vehicle features a holographic

brake lamp made of Makrolon® polycarbonate and a smoothly contoured,

transparent, one-piece roof dome also made from high-performance

Makrolon®.

Designer Svenja John receives a Red Dot award for bags made from

Makrofol® polycarbonate films. She also makes jewelry out of Makrolon®

polycarbonate for example, for Christian Lacroix.

 

2007

The Rinspeed eXasis concept car premieres at the Geneva Motor Show 2007.

It utilizes Makrolon® polycarbonate to create a completely transparent body.

 

2008

The Hyundai i-mode concept vehicle features several Bayer materials

including window glazing, interior coatings and lenses for innovative collimator

headlights.

The Audi A8 utilizes Makrolon® polycarbonate from Bayer MaterialScience for

its LED headlights.

 

2010

Polycarbonate grades for furniture are introduced.

Makrolon® LED2245 polycarbonate lenses for automobile headlights are

unveiled.

The Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport features the world‘s fastest transparent

panoramic roof. Thanks to Makrolon® polycarbonate from Bayer, it‘s also

lightweight and easy to handle.

Bayer presents a seamless polycarbonate sunroof at the K Fair.

Mazda collaborates with Bayer to design a super-lightweight concept car (under

1,000 pounds) using currently available materials.

 

2012

Bayer launches a new grade of thermally conductive plastic to help lighting

manufacturers meet consumer demand as consumers switch from

incandescent bulbs to more energy-efficient LEDs.

An innovative auto-injector utilizes Bayer plastics for optimal ruggedness,

portability, safety and ease of use for patients at risk for anaphylaxis, or severe

allergic reaction. It combines a well-known medicine with a customized

delivery system, resulting in a unique solution for patients.

OrthoSensor™ chooses Makrolon® polycarbonate for its OrthoSensor Knee

Balancer, a revolutionary, intelligent orthopedic device. The Knee Balancer

also utilizes color technologies from Bayer to identify different sizes of its

application.

 

To form the protective Snap Shield Perforation case and inserts for the iPad 2,

Belkin International turned to Makrolon® polycarbonate as a material that

could withstand daily wear and tear, and meet consumer demand for colorful

personalization.

Bayer and Hella KGaA Hueck & Co. develop a street lighting solution tailored

to improving public safety and reducing energy consumption. The Eco Street-

Line utilizes energy-efficient LED technology molded from Makrolon® LED

polycarbonate grades.

 

2013

Bayer continues developing solutions that improve the quality and ease of our

lives through innovation and the realization of dreams.

At K Fair 2013, Bayer presents a mobile metering unit that allows patients to

administer their own medicines with high dosing accuracy. Although the

entirely mechanically operated injection pump has not yet been granted

regulatory approval, it is a good example of the possibilities offered by mobile

medication systems.

Whether it’s a splash of accent color, or a customized decorative matte or

high-gloss finish, Bayer polycarbonates help automakers meet consumer

demand for vehicle personalization.

Bayer displays the Haval E concept car at K Fair 2013 in Düsseldorf, Germany.

The Haval E uses lightweight glazing components made of high-performance

Makrolon® polycarbonate.

 

2014

Bayer kicks off the year bringing an architectural vision to life at the home of

the 2014 World Cup®. UV-resistant Makrolon® polycarbonate sheets are used

for the roof of the 45,000-seat “Arena das Dunas” (The Stadium of the Dunes)

Brazilian soccer stadium in Natal. The strong, yet flexible sheets allow for a

unique, open-air design that mimics the look of sand dunes, while improving

ventilation and lighting.

As cameras continue to be an important and distinguishing selling point of

smartphones, a special copolycarbonate ¬– Apec® high-heat polycarbonate –

is chosen to improve LED flash lenses, producing clearer photos with truer

colors and protecting the lens from damage.

New flame-retardant Bayblend® FR4000 (PC+ABS, PC+ASA) blend resin is

ideal for electronic components, like laptops. Combined with light weight,

weather and chemical resistance and the ability to withstand high mechanical

loads, this polycarbonate blend is increasingly specified for device housings in

the electrical and electronics industries.