New polycarbonate grades for furniture

Transparent furniture is trendy because it is aesthetic and provides for a new visual lightness. There is increasing demand from the furniture industry for transparent materials that are flame-retardant and – depending on the thickness of the material – can satisfy the requirements of the standards DIN 4102 Class B and UNI 9177 Class 1, particularly for use in public buildings.

Bayer MaterialScience has developed and launched two new products based on polycarbonate that meet these requirements.

Makrolon? FU1007 (the abbreviation FU stands for furniture) is easy flowing and thus also suitable for more customized designs. Makrolon? FU4007 was formulated specifically for higher mechanical loads. Both grades include UV protection and are easy to process and color.

"We developed both products at the request of furniture manufacturers with particular requirements for flame retardance due to use in public buildings," says Matthias Rothe from Polycarbonate Marketing at Bayer MaterialScience. "This makes us the only supplier in this high-end market and rounds out our previous range of transparent plastics for the furniture industry."

Upon request, the company also supports customers with the design and trial production for such furniture applications.