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Abstract:
The excellent electrical conductivity and mechanical strength of Baytubes® carbon nanotubes were the decisive factors leading to a cooperation agreement on thermoplastics between Bayer MaterialScience AG and Clariant Masterbatches (Deutschland) GmbH. Bayer MaterialScience will supply Clariant with industrial quantities of high-quality Baytubes® for the manufacture of development and sales products for compounds and master batches. The carbon nanotubes, CNT for short, will initially be used in the new CESA® conductive CNT product range. Potential applications for the resultant compounds include electrically conductive machine components and packaging for delicate electronic components such as computer chips.

Carbon nanotubes for new thermoplastic materials

Leverkusen, Germany | Posted on April 3rd, 2008

"Clariant is one of the world's leading suppliers of thermoplastic compounds and master batches and is the ideal partner for us to promote greater use of Baytubes® on an industrial scale thanks to its wealth of experience in compounding technology and application development," explains Martin Schmid, head of global Baytubes® operations. Compounds are formed by combining one or more plastics with fillers or aggregates. Master batches are additives such as dyes that are incorporated in high concentrations into polymeric carriers and mixed into plastics to give them specific properties such as a particular color. Clariant also sees great growth potential in cooperating to develop innovative materials. According to Christian Funder, Product Manager at Clariant Masterbatches (Deutschland), "The CESA® conductive CNT product range represents a valuable addition to our portfolio that has a particular advantage over semi-conductive products based on carbon black in terms of its mechanical and melt flow properties."

CESA® conductive CNT enables thermoplastics to be given conductive properties. "We will develop products tailored to specific applications in close cooperation with our customers. This is a particular strength of Clariant's technical and development services," adds Funder.

The cooperation between Bayer MaterialScience and Clariant on Baytubes® is a long-term arrangement that is intended to extend to other product areas in future. According to Schmid, "The objective is to enjoy joint growth on the expanding market for compounds and open up new markets. Clariant's wide-ranging product portfolio - including everything from commodity plastics such as polyethylene to engineering thermoplastics such as highly heat-resistant polycarbonates - represents a major advantage for us in this respect."

Clariant Masterbatches (Deutschland) GmbH has branches in Lahnstein, Ahrensburg and Döbeln and is part of Clariant's Masterbatches Division, a world-leading Swiss company for specialty chemicals headquartered in Muttenz, near Basel. The Clariant Group includes over 100 companies and is represented on five continents with a workforce of around 21,000. In 2007, Clariant generated sales amounting to 8.5 billion Swiss francs. It is split into four divisions - Textiles, Leather & Paper Chemicals, Pigments & Additives, Masterbatches, and Functional Chemicals.

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About Bayer MaterialScience
With 2007 sales of EUR 10.4 billion, Bayer MaterialScience is among the world’s largest polymer companies. Business activities are focused on the manufacture of high-tech polymer materials and the development of innovative solutions for products used in many areas of daily life. The main segments served are the automotive, electrical and electronics, construction and sports and leisure industries. Bayer MaterialScience has 30 production sites around the globe and employed approximately 15,400 people at the end of 2007. Bayer MaterialScience is a Bayer Group company.

Forward-Looking Statements

This release may contain forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by Bayer Group or subgroup management. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to material differences between the actual future results, financial situation, development or performance of the company and the estimates given here. These factors include those discussed in Bayer’s public reports which are available on the Bayer website at www.bayer.com. The company assumes no liability whatsoever to update these forward-looking statements or to conform them to future events or developments.

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