Polycarbonate and polyurethane are increasingly being utilized by automakers to help improve the energy efficiency of vehicles. Understanding the respective value chains of these materials can be beneficial for OEMs who are seeking to expand their use.
At the Motor Vehicle Metals and Resins conference, held May 17 in Dearborn, Mich., Bruce Benda, vice president, Automotive and Transportation, Bayer MaterialScience LLC, shared his insights on this topic during his presentation “Trends in Resins.” More specifically, he explained the chemistries behind these materials and offered additional context that will be useful for attendees who are specifying these materials for automotive applications.
Benda also participated in a panel discussion focused on the resins industry moderated by Jeff Mengel, partner/plastics industry group leader, Plante Moran. Joining Benda on the panel was Benjamin Morse, senior editor, Platts Petrochemicals; and Paul Blanchard, director, Engineering Resins, IHS Chemical.
Because of all the advantages polycarbonate and polyurethane offer, including enhanced styling and the ability to reduce component weight, demand is expected to remain strong. Attendees can visit Bayer’s booth to see firsthand its automotive lightweighting technologies and how Bayer can support both automotive OEMs and their suppliers.