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For Immediate Release

Carbon nanotubes for custom-made surfboards: Bayer MaterialScience’s Baytubes® carbon nanotubes contribute to the next wave of customizable surfboards

May 12, 2009

Pittsburgh, May 12, 2009 — Entropy Surfboards, a division of Entropy Sports, Amroy Europe (Amroy) Ltd., and Bayer MaterialScience (BMS) LLC have teamed up to deliver a new line of custom-made surfboards that incorporate carbon nanotubes from BMS.

Entropy Surfboards believes that epoxy systems are the future of and a key ingredient in making a more durable and lively surfboard. For that reason, the company is using Hybtonite, an advanced epoxy system from Amroy that incorporates Baytubes® carbon nanotubes from BMS, resulting in composite structures that are tougher and more durable than standard epoxy systems. The surfboards combine performance and durability with the traditional feel of a custom-shaped board. The dimensions and weight of the boards will vary per the specifications of each customer.

The basic construction process for surfboards has remained basically unchanged for over 50 years, making customers very particular about how their boards look and feel. The core consists of a type of foam with a stringer made of wood or plastic that spans from the nose to the tail, and is then wrapped in fiberglass. It is the final step that sets Entropy surfboards apart from traditional boards, when the Hybtonite system is used. The incorporation of BMS' Baytubes carbon nanotubes allows Entropy to achieve increased toughness without sacrificing the flex properties of the board.

The epoxy systems used in Entropy Surfboards, as well as other Entropy Sports high performance products and materials, are lab tested at the Berkeley Composites Lab on the campus of the University of California, Berkeley. Entropy surfboards, featuring various materials, shapes and construction methods, are also tested year round in a variety of surf conditions.

"The Bayer carbon nanotubes increase durability by a factor of two to three, while also decreasing the fatigue that is often seen in traditional boards subjected to everyday conditions," said Rey Banatao of Entropy. "Because of the benefits they offer, we decided to pursue using carbon nanotubes in our products once they became available and affordable."

"BMS has succeeded in producing high-quality carbon nanotubes in a cost-effective process," said Joe Ventura, business development manager, Baytubes carbon nanotubes, Bayer MaterialScience LLC. "As a result, our Baytubes are helping create entirely new materials with revolutionary properties for applications, like the Entropy Surfboard, in numerous fields."

Bayer MaterialScience LLC is one of the leading producers of polymers and high-performance plastics in North America and is part of the global Bayer MaterialScience business with nearly 15,100 employees at 30 sites around the world and 2008 sales of 9.7 billion euros. 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, medical, and sports and leisure industries.

Bayer Corporation, headquartered in Pittsburgh, is a subsidiary of Bayer AG, an international health care, nutrition and high-tech materials group based in Leverkusen, Germany. In North America, Bayer had 2008 net sales of approximately 8 billion euros (about $12 billion) and employed 17,000 at year end. Bayer's three subgroups, Bayer HealthCare, Bayer CropScience and Bayer MaterialScience, improve people's lives through a broad range of essential products that help diagnose, prevent and treat diseases; protect crops and enhance yields; and advance automobile safety and durability. For more information, go to www.bayerus.com.

For more information about Baytubes, call 412 -777-3983, e-mail naftainfo@bayerbms.com or visit www.bayermaterialsciencenafta.com.

For more information about Entropy Surfboards, contact Rey Banatao at 310-882-2582, e-mail rey@entropysports.com or visit www.entropysports.com.

For more information about Amroy Europe Ltd., e-mail Kimmo Kaila kimmo.kaila@amroy.fi.

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This website 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.

Media Contact(s)
Name:	Thomas Erdner
Phone:	412-777-5200
Company:	Bayer MaterialScience
Email:	thomas.erdner@bayerbms.com

Entropy Surfboards believes that epoxy systems are the future of and a key ingredient in making a more durable and lively surfboard.

For that reason, the company is using Hybtonite®, an advanced epoxy system that incorporates Bayer MaterialScience’s Baytubes carbon nanotubes, resulting in composite structures that are tougher and more durable than standard epoxy systems.