Darmstadt, Germany, December 7, 2009. The innovative, highly insulating Makrolon® multi-wall sheets of the i-LINE series from Bayer Sheet Europe can achieve a considerable reduction of the carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions that are harmful to the climate. This is the conclusion based on recent figures from Europe, which allow the direct comparison of the sheets with conventional products. From 2003 to 2008, more than 14,000 metric tons of the new generation of Makrolon® multi-wall sheets have been installed in buildings, which corresponds to a roof surface of more than six million square meters. Thanks to the excellent heat-insulating effect of the i-LINE products, CO₂ emissions from buildings with Makrolon® installations were reduced by a total 113,000 metric tons. More information can be found in the new brochure from Bayer MaterialScience AG entitled "Saving and storing energy. Environmentally friendly and efficient building with Makrolon® sheet".

Under the quality label i-LINE Bayer Sheet Europe offers a wide range of Makrolon® sheets for roofs and facades that is setting new standards in environmental protection and energy efficiency. Roughly half of the multi-wall sheets in the current Makrolon® portfolio have been introduced in the past four years - a high pace of innovation that meets the needs of the market and the customers.

Makrolon® multi UV: High insulation and special UV protection
The Makrolon® multi UV 6-wall, 4-wall and 5M (5-wall) of the i-LINE series have been a real blockbuster. The polycarbonate multi-wall sheets feature a strong heat-insulating effect and special UV protection and meet even the stringent requirements of the Australian Standard AS/NZS 4399:1996.

One of the most popular geometries is the Makrolon® multi UV 6-wall sheet (6/16-20 and 6/20-20). Whether it is for residential or commercial construction, builders, planners, and architects value the low weight of the sheet and the very good cold bending properties as well as the excellent heat insulation. The product saves up to 25% in energy over conventional sheets of the same thickness. This corresponds to annual savings of six liters of heating oil, or 6.6 cubic meters of natural gas (gaseous) per square meter.

Top performance in terms of energy savings is also achieved by Makrolon^® multi UV 4-wall (4/10-6 and 4/8-6), which were introduced in 2005 and 2007. The polycarbonate 4-wall sheets with a unique Y structure feature low thickness yet they have outstanding heat insulation ability. Over standard products of the same thickness, the sheets save roughly six liters of heating oil, or 6.6 cubic meters of natural gas (gaseous) per square meter and year.

A similar success in the program is Makrolon^® multi UV 5M, which was launched in 2008. Its innovative M structure achieves excellent insulation. Depending on the thickness of the sheet the heat transition coefficient U_g ranges between of 1.0 W/m²K and 1.3 W/m²K, which allows annual energy savings of up to seven liters of heating oil, or 7.7 cubic meters of natural gas (gaseous) per square meter.

The translucent IQ Relax products that provide effective insulation from heat and sunlight round off the product portfolio. The sheets reduce the heat that penetrates into the interior of a building by 50% in relation to the total energy transmission but does not affect the amount of light inside the building, which creates a pleasant bright atmosphere.

Makrolon®, a sustainable material
The highly insulating sheets of the i-LINE do more for the environment than maximizing energy efficiency. Eco-balances according to Life Cycle Assessments (LCA) have confirmed that the production process and recycling of the sheets is also gentle on energy and other resources. The ingredients used in Makrolon® are harmless: they are halogen-free (according to DIN/VDE 0472 Part 815), contain no heavy metals (according to US CONEG standards), and they do not contain ozone-depleting substances (ODS). The products also comply with numerous international standards for the fire behavior of construction materials. Makrolon® sheets do not self-ignite and do not spread a fire. In the event of a fire, there is no risk of parts or particles dropping, there is almost no release of toxic substances, and the smoke density is low. Fire tests with the sheets demonstrated other advantages, such as melted areas of the sheets serving as a vent to release gases, smoke, and heat, thus providing maximum protection for the building structure underneath.

Makrolon®, a convincing choice for the construction industry
The complete portfolio for the construction sector includes solid sheets (GP), multi-wall sheets, and corrugated polycarbonate sheets (CS) that are offered in many color variations as well as transparent, translucent, and opaque. The sturdy sheets are available in many sizes, property combinations, and sheet structures. Their outstanding temperature resistance range (minus 100°C to 120°C) allows their use both in tropical and arctic climates. Their low weight makes is possible to install them on large surfaces with relatively light supporting frames and substructures. And, last but not least, the sheets are easy to process. They can be sawed, sawed, drilled, and milled and have excellent cold bending properties.

The company
Bayer Sheet Europe develops, produces and sells Makrolon^® polycarbonate sheets, Axpet^® and Vivak^® polyester sheets, as well as Bayloy^® high-quality plastic sheets. Applications of Bayer Sheet Europe products for the construction sector include sports stadiums, train stations, and greenhouses. In the area of design and display, applications include plastic sheet for the surface protection of large displays, billboards, traffic signs, and price boards. In addition, Bayer Sheet Europe products can also be found in industrial applications such as protective visors, machinery protective covers, lamp covers, and housings.

For more information on the wide range of products from Bayer Sheet Europe, please visit our website: www.bayersheeteurope.com

Darmstadt, December 2009