Timelines Archive 1900 - 1939.

Breaking new ground: A search for alternatives opens up a whole new world

1905: The basis for later successes
The search for a non-flammable coating raw material leads to the discovery of Cellit®. In subsequent years it is used mainly to formulate dopes for aircraft and airships.

1929: Alkydal – for binders
Alkydal is discovered in the newly founded Uerdingen Laboratory. This product enables the manufacture of the first synthetic binders.

1932: For better coatings
Pergut®, the result of unwavering research over a period of 12 years, is launched on the market. It is the first raw material for coatings resistant to water and chemicals.

1937: Polyurethane takes the stage
Otto Bayer (1902 - 1982) develops the innovative polyisocyanate-polyaddition process and paves the way for polyurethane chemistry. Thus begins the most significant chapter in the history of modern coatings and adhesives raw materials.

The objective was to produce spinnable products made of hexane-1,6-diisocyanate (HDI) and hexa-1,6-diamine (HDA). German Patent DRP 728981 for "a process for the production of polyurethanes and polyureas" was published on November 13, 1937. The team of inventors consisted of: O. Bayer, W. Siefken, H. Rinke, L. Orthner and H. Schild.
Two diisocyanates are synthesized: Diphenylmethane-4,4'-diisocyanate (MDI) and naphthalene-1,5-diisocyanate (NDI) – still key products for a wide range of standard and special applications and for elastomers.