Application
Data Centers: One Partner. Countless Solutions
From building envelope to server rack, our high-performance polymers solve real data center challenges — thermal, safety, and sustainability.
Featured Brands
- Versatile toughness via blends of PC+ABS; PC+ASA; ABS+PC and PC+SAN
- Polyol blends for flame-retarded PU insulation foams in construction
- Baytherm®: Low-density, high-insulation PUR foam for cold and hot applications. Ideal for refrigerators, containers, heating pipes, and boilers
- Polyisocyanates for a wide range of PU foams, coatings and adhesives
- Innovative portfolio of primary and secondary coatings for optical fiber for the telecom industry.
- Polyurethane film made from aromatic and aliphatic polyester or polyether
- High-performance polycarbonate for applications in diverse industries.
We offer a comprehensive portfolio of high-performance polymer materials specifically developed for data centers. From polyurethane insulation materials for energy-efficient building envelopes and pipes to polycarbonate solutions for thermal management, fire-safe electrical components and aisle containment panels – we address thermal, safety and sustainability challenges throughout the entire facility. Flame-retardant polymer blends ensure reliability in emergency power systems, while specialized fiber optic coatings protect signal integrity in high-density networks. More sustainable options with bio-based content and recycled granulate are available across our entire portfolio.
Building Envelope & Energy Efficiency
Polyurethane insulation solutions from Covestro, built on our trusted Desmodur®, Baymer® and Baytherm® chemistries, deliver excellent thermal performance across the full building envelope and pipe insulation. Whether specified as rigid insulation boards, insulated metal panels (IMPs), or spray foam for complex geometries, or piping insulation, our materials keep data center building shells, HVAC systems, and equipment rooms thermally optimized — keeping sensitive hardware cool and operations running at peak efficiency.
Electrical Components & Fire Safety
Inside a data center, electrical reliability isn't optional — it's everything. Makrolon® polycarbonate and Bayblend® PC blends deliver flame retardancy, and durability that switches, sockets, housings, relays, and cooling fan blades demand in critical IT infrastructure, helping facilities meet strict electrical safety standards without compromising on weight or design flexibility. With more sustainable options* including recycled attributed content and bio-attributed** feedstocks, our materials support both the performance and decarbonization goals of next-generation data center builds.
*Refers to products with alternative, non-fossil feedstocks that replace traditional virgin resources and can be traced through the entire supply chain
**A bio-attributed product is made by physically mixing more sustainable, bio-based raw materials with traditional fossil-based raw materials during manufacturing, while using verifiable bookkeeping to track and assign the bio-based sustainability claims to specific end products
*Refers to products with alternative, non-fossil feedstocks that replace traditional virgin resources and can be traced through the entire supply chain
**A bio-attributed product is made by physically mixing more sustainable, bio-based raw materials with traditional fossil-based raw materials during manufacturing, while using verifiable bookkeeping to track and assign the bio-based sustainability claims to specific end products
Thermal Management
As data centers push the limits of computing density, managing heat at the component level has never been more critical. Our Makrolon® TC thermally conductive polycarbonate offers a lightweight, high-performance alternative to traditional die-cast aluminum heat sinks — efficiently absorbing and distributing heat away from sensitive power electronics while unlocking the design freedom of injection molding to reduce part complexity and consolidate components.
Aisle Containment & Security
Makrolon® polycarbonate resins can be used to create sheets that are lightweight, impact-resistant, and provide excellent transparency — ideal for aisle containment panels, doors, and viewing windows that prevent hot and cold air from mixing while allowing visual equipment inspection without disrupting airflow. For added security, Dureflex® TPU film can be laminated directly onto polycarbonate sheets, delivering robust protection against forceful impact.
Backup Power Reliability
Makrolon® polycarbonate and Bayblend® PC blends bring the high impact strength, dimensional stability, and UL 94 V0/5VA flame retardancy that battery backups, power supply housings, and transparent light guide components demand under sustained heat and electrical load. With next-generation FR grades combining impact resistance, weatherability, and flame retardancy in a single material — plus more sustainable bio-circular* options — Covestro helps UPS designers stay ahead of both performance requirements and evolving regulatory standards.
*Materials derived from waste and residues of biological origin (e.g., used cooking oil, food waste, and forestry residues
*Materials derived from waste and residues of biological origin (e.g., used cooking oil, food waste, and forestry residues
Fiber Optic Materials Coating
With over 45 years of expertise, Covestro is a trusted partner for fiber optic and cable manufacturers supplying the data center industry, providing high-performance UV-curable coatings that protect optical fibers beyond a 35-year lifespan. Our DeSolite®, Bufferlite®, and Cablelite® materials ensure signal integrity in the high-density, high-bandwidth environments that power AI and cloud workloads, keeping the digital world running reliably. As fiber networks expand into more demanding environments, our latest innovation, the dual-layer system based on DeSolite® DP-10HT and DS-20HT, helps customers achieve reliable high-temperature performance up to 200°C, without compromising handling.
FAQs
How do polyurethane insulation systems compare to traditional materials in optimizing data center energy efficiency?
PU and PIR rigid foam offer at least 30% better thermal performance than conventional materials like EPS, rock wool, or glass wool — meaning thinner panels can achieve the same or better insulation value, saving both space and energy costs over the building's lifetime.
What specific flame-retardant ratings do polycarbonate grades achieve for critical IT components?
Makrolon® FR grades achieve UL94 V-0 ratings at thicknesses as low as 1.0–1.5mm, and select grades achieve 5VA ratings — meeting the most demanding electrical safety standards for enclosures, connectors, and switches.
Can thermally conductive polycarbonates reliably replace aluminum heat sinks in high-density computing?
Makrolon® TC grades are engineered to absorb and direct heat away from sensitive components, offering a lightweight, injection-moldable alternative to die-cast aluminum. While not a match for pure metal conductivity, they provide an excellent balance of thermal performance, design flexibility, weight reduction, and cost savings in many applications.
Do these fiber optic coatings support next-generation bend-insensitive and high-density network architectures?
Yes. Our coating portfolio is designed to support next-generation fiber architectures including bend-insensitive and ultra-low-loss fiber, working in close collaboration with fiber manufacturers globally.
How can bio-attributed and recycled material feedstocks help operators meet net-zero and ESG targets?
Our materials contribute across multiple vectors — reducing operational energy through insulation performance, lowering embodied carbon through bio-attributed and recycled feedstocks, and extending infrastructure lifetimes (reducing replacement frequency) through durability and corrosion resistance.
