“Sky is limit for polyurethane applications!”, Diane Langer, Huntsman

Automotive industry leadership is not for the faint of heart these days. Transformative change is both exciting and daunting. Much like a thrilling drive on the Autobahn, it requires tactical decision-making, adaptation to changing environmental conditions, and not least of all, a passion for driving!

With a passion for the automotive industry — and fast driving — Dr. Diane Langer is well suited for her role as an automotive division director at Huntsman.

Priorities in her roadmap:

• Support customers’ top strategies through deeper partnerships
• Deliver innovative solutions to improve efficiency and address sustainability challenges
• Engage in discussions on legislation affecting the automotive industry.

“The automotive industry is transforming itself at a fast rate with the adoption of new energy vehicles. Globalisation is driving (pun intended) these changes. I enjoy the openness and collaboration involved within companies and throughout the wider value chain to deliver on business strategies, such as sustainability and zero-carbon emissions.”

As OEMs directly engage with materials suppliers, there is closer collaboration and greater pressure. For example, urgent R&D is focused on:

• alternative feedstocks, including post-consumer plastic
• bio-circular waste streams
• other bio-based resources as inputs

“Bringing these new technologies to market is challenging while supply chains are under-developed. Introductory costs result in premiums that must be shared across the value chain. Close cooperation between all players will be critical to ensure a circular plastic economy within the automotive industry.”

Education and career path

Diane has a love of chemistry dating back to her first year of undergraduate studies. Over 20 years later, her enthusiasm is strong as ever. When asked what makes the composites industry a compelling career choice, her answer: “The variety of materials, from design concepts to simulations to prototyping, is compelling enough! The sky is the limit for polyurethanes applications. It is so fulfilling to see your products in vehicles on the road today!”

Fluent in English and German, she earned her doctorate in physical chemistry at the Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz. Her thesis work explored anionic synthesis of polymers. Another research interest is diblock copolymer characterisation and manipulation. She holds a master’s degree in chemistry from the University of Utah and a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Diane also has earned a master’s degree in business administration (MBA) from the University of Michigan.

“The desire to solve problems and bring value to customers is important to be a successful scientist in the chemical industry. As I progressed in my career, I felt an MBA would help round out my technical background. This enabled me to sit comfortably at the table with my commercial, marketing, manufacturing, finance, human resources and supply chain counterparts.”

She knows how to lead within a multinational company. Large businesses often have a matrixed organisational structure. In this business model, people report to multiple managers. Leadership requires:

• strong people skills
• business acumen
• technical expertise

Diane has honed these capabilities. Before joining Huntsman as a director in 2023, she worked at BASF for 21 years across 11 roles with increasing responsibility. While at BASF, she began as research laboratory head, Lemfoerde, Germany, and her last position there was director, automotive OEM coatings technology, Americas.

“It was a difficult decision to change companies after more than 2 decades. However, I was offered a global opportunity in polyurethanes (my first love after school) and in the automotive sector. That was what convinced me. I miss the great people I worked with at BASF, but I am happy for the opportunities I have in my new role and grateful to have met more wonderful people at Huntsman.”

On effective communication

One of Diane’s top pieces of advice to both young people and industry veterans is to prioritise communication. One of her go-to books is “Crucial Conversations,” which is applicable to both personal and professional life. “The premise is that no matter how seasoned an employee you are, having productive, fruitful, crucial conversations can transform any environment from good to great.”

For example, cooperation and communication are instrumental for productive conversations which must take place between supply chain partners, government and industry regarding automotive sustainability.

Crucial conversations also are important to cultivate diversity, equity and inclusion. During her career, Diane has seen corporations diversify their workforces, and in turn, become stronger businesses. “I always lean toward letting results speak for themselves. I have witnessed the automotive industry embrace and employ a wider variety of people from different backgrounds. They also are adopting behaviour-based reward systems to diversify and remain globally competitive.”

Automotive polyurethanes: always evolving

Huntsman’s automotive portfolio includes solutions for:

• exteriors, including structural assemblies
• components for repair and aftermarkets
• electrical applications
• hybrid and EV battery housing covers
• interiors
• powertrains and chassis

Polyurethane (PU) is a building block for many of these products. Automotive PU applications are Dr. Langer’s focus. PU performs well in wet compression moulding and spray application techniques. PU materials can speed and simplify component manufacturing. Lightweight and versatile by nature, the polymer can contribute to:

• fuel efficiency
• durability
• longevity

With good edge-filling capabilities, Huntsman’s VITROX^® and RIMLINE^® PU composite resin systems can give auto designers flexibility to engineer complex-shaped modular components to fit into specific spaces. This can help OEMs and suppliers optimise production processes. Efficiency equals less waste.

Sustainability strides

Huntsman is investing resources to reduce product carbon footprints through use of the aforementioned recycled and bio-based feedstocks. Methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI), a primary PU component, can be derived from bio-based sources via mass balance attribution. So could PU polyols. Mass balance attribution is a method to track production processes, attributing (balancing) the sustainability of inputs to specified outputs.

“We are prioritising the use of feedstocks from post-consumer plastics, bio-circular waste and bio-based resources wherever possible, reducing our reliance on petrochemicals and thereby helping to lower the carbon footprint of materials in cars. We are proud that almost all our automotive technologies can now be made available with attributed mass balance content if required.”

Huntsman’s bio-circular MDI use in PU manufacturing is validated through the International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC) PLUS system. “With this certification in place, we can attribute a percentage of the bio-circular MDI we use in our manufacturing process to help reduce the attributed carbon footprint of our customer’s products. This is an important step forward.”

Financial incentives and regulations accelerated the first generation of vehicle electrification. While there is uncertainty about the future of U.S. electric vehicle (EV) tax credits, OEMs are rolling ahead with second-generation EVs, with greater priority on lightweighting, especially for sport utility vehicles (SUV) and trucks. For many American consumers, EV performance, particularly driving range, is of greater concern than government incentives to go electric. New OEM programs aim to extend EV driving range.

The race is on for the automotive value chain. Expectations are high, price pressure intense, and the stakes to be won or lost could influence earth’s long-term habitability. It is good to know executives like Dr. Diane Langer are at the wheel.

Cover photo: Image © 2025 Huntsman Corporation. All rights reserved

Article © JEC Composites Magazine. Images © 2025 Huntsman Corporation. All rights reserved. RIMLINE® and VITROX® are registered trademarks of Huntsman Corporation or an affiliate thereof in one or more, but not all, countries. © 2025 Huntsman Corporation or an affiliate thereof. All rights reserved.