I manage purchasing for a mid-sized company—roughly $150k annually across printing, display, and packaging vendors. I'm not a materials scientist. I'm the person who gets the frantic call when a project is stalled because the wrong foam board arrived.
Over the years I've ordered a fair amount of material from Covestro directly and through distributors. If you're new to specifying their polycarbonates, polyurethanes, or TPU, here are the questions I wish someone had answered for me when I started.
1. What exactly is Covestro, and why should I care?
Covestro is a German polymer manufacturer spun off from Bayer in 2015. They make the raw materials—polycarbonate resin, polyurethane precursors, and thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU)—that get turned into a huge range of products.
Why it matters to a buyer: If you're ordering display materials, protective cases, or industrial components, there's a good chance your supplier is using Covestro material. Knowing the source helps you spec consistently and avoid substitution headaches. I learned this the hard way when a "comparable" polycarbonate sheet yellowed in three months. The original was made with Covestro Makrolon®.
2. What's the deal with Covestro bio-based TPU?
Covestro sells a TPU line called Desmopan® that uses renewable feedstocks. The bio-attributed content means some of the carbon in the material comes from plants rather than fossil fuels.
The real-world trade-off I've seen: The bio-based TPU is slightly more expensive—maybe 10-15% based on quotes I got in late 2024. But it performs nearly identically to standard TPU in terms of abrasion resistance and flexibility. If your company has sustainability targets, this is an easier sell to finance than you might think.
One thing to verify: ask your distributor for the certification documents (ISCC PLUS is the common one). I got burned on a green marketing claim once. Don't let that happen to you.
3. Can I use Covestro materials for outdoor signage?
Short answer: yes, but you need the right grade. Standard polycarbonate is already UV-stabilized better than acrylic. Covestro's Makrolon® GP (general purpose) sheet is fine for indoor use, but you want Makrolon® UV or an equivalent with UV-resistant coating for outdoor applications.
According to industry standard testing (ASTM D256, for impact resistance), polycarbonate is about 250 times more impact-resistant than standard acrylic. That's not an exaggeration—it's a published spec. For a gutter application or exterior sign where hail is a possibility, it's a no-brainer choice.
4. What about foam board for displays? Is 2x2 foam board a Covestro product?
No, Covestro doesn't make the finished foam board you'd buy from an art supply store. But they supply the polyurethane chemistry used in the foam core by manufacturers like 3A Composites (Gatorfoam) and others.
I can only speak to my experience: we used to order generic foam board from a local supplier for trade show displays. It dented easily and the paper facing peeled. When we switched to a board made with a denser PU core—confirmed sourced from Covestro—the difference was night and day. The board held up for three shows.
The lesson: Ask your foam board vendor what's in their core. If they can't tell you, that's a red flag.
5. Is acrylic plastic the same as polycarbonate? (Spoiler: no)
This is the most common confusion I deal with. My marketing team once ordered "acrylic" signs for an outdoor event. The vendor sent standard acrylic (PMMA). Within 6 months, the signs were cracked and yellowed.
| Property | Acrylic (PMMA) | Polycarbonate (PC, e.g., Covestro Makrolon) |
|---|---|---|
| Impact resistance | Good (but brittle under stress) | Excellent (~250x more impact resistant than glass per standards) |
| UV resistance | Good (inherently UV stable) | Good (requires UV coating for long-term outdoor use) |
| Flexibility | Rigid, can shatter | Flexible, won't shatter |
| Cost | Lower | Higher (~1.5-2x acrylic for comparable thickness) |
My rule of thumb: Use acrylic for indoor displays where scratches repair easily and cost matters. Use polycarbonate for anything outdoors, high-traffic, or where breakage means injury risk. I've replaced enough shattered acrylic panels to pay for the polycarbonate upgrade many times over.
6. How do I choose between TPU and silicone for flexible parts?
I went back and forth on this one for a packaging prototype project. Both are flexible polymers, but the chemistry is different. TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane), like Covestro's Desmopan, is an elastomer that processes like plastic—meaning it can be injection molded and recycled. Silicone is a thermoset; once cured, it can't be remelted.
When TPU wins: You need abrasion resistance, oil/grease resistance, or the part needs to be welded to another plastic. TPU is also generally cheaper per part in high volume.
When silicone wins: Extreme temperatures (above 250°F or below -60°F), food contact where flexibility at low temp is critical, or medical applications where biocompatibility is paramount.
To be fair, I'm oversimplifying. These are general guidelines. Your specific application might have unique constraints—always get a material data sheet from your Covestro distributor.
7. Where can I buy Covestro materials directly?
You typically buy through distributors, not direct from Covestro for smaller quantities. Major distributors include:
- Entec Polymers (US, broad portfolio)
- Biesterfeld (Europe)
- Mitsubishi Chemical Group (Asia, also distributes Covestro PC)
For small quantities of sheet goods (polycarbonate panels, foam board), your local plastics supply house or sign supply shop will carry it. Ask them for the Covestro Makrolon® GP sheet for prototyping.
Pro tip I learned in 2022: Request pricing from at least 3 distributors for the same spec. I once got quotes ranging from $4.20 to $7.80 per sheet for identical 4x8 Makrolon®. The cheapest wasn't always the most reliable on delivery, but the spread taught me to never accept the first quote.
Prices as of early 2025; verify current rates with your distributor. This is based on my purchasing experience managing roughly 60 orders a year across display, packaging, and industrial material vendors. Your mileage may vary depending on volume and location.
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