Dieter Freitag
Bayer AG
Inducted 2006
Dr. Dieter Freitag (1939 – 2014) was a German-born chemical and materials engineer whose research and development efforts in polycarbonate materials resulted in more than 430 patents (179 of which were granted in the United States). Dr. Freitag studied chemistry at the Universities of Freiburg and Frankfurt and received his doctorate in chemistry from the University of Frankfurt. He spent most of his professional career at Bayer AG in Germany. In 33 years at Bayer AG, he rose to Head of Materials Research, Director of the Plastics Business R&D Group, and Chair of the Materials Research Committee.
While at Bayer, Dr. Freitag invented a technology for a modified, lower viscosity polycarbonate for Philips Electronics that was to become the basis for the high-volume compact-disk industry. Other polycarbonate research work resulted in transparent yet tough polycarbonate for large, thin-walled plastic sheets and a polycarbonate that exhibits superior heat resistance for lighting, appliance, and medical device applications. After he retired from Bayer in 2000, Freitag joined Triton Systems, Chelmsford, Massachusetts, to work in the field of “inherently” flame-retardant polymers.
During his career, he received many awards for his technical achievements. These include the Otto Bayer medal in 1985, the Hermann F. Mark medal in 1997 (by the Austrian Research Institute for Chemistry and Technology), and an Honorary Doctor of Sciences in 2000 (by the Russian Academy of Sciences). He published and spoke at numerous technical conferences in his career, having more than 75 scientific articles and presentations.
Areas of Expertise:
Plastic materials
Related Links:
http://www.frxpolymers.com/dieterfreitag.pdf