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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 Kvxt+gJfRv+NO+FuDrDCQAENkGEujKs2Z119j8APpcAJ2g+LMwMFPem2laznfqpl
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000755003-08-000001.txt : 20080205
<SEC-HEADER>0000755003-08-000001.hdr.sgml : 20080205
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20080205182652
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000755003-08-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20080201
FILED AS OF DATE:		20080205
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20080205

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MATERIAL SCIENCES CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000755003
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	COATING, ENGRAVING & ALLIED SERVICES [3470]
		IRS NUMBER:				952673173
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0228

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2300 E PRATT BLVD
		CITY:			ELK GROVE VILLAGE
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60007
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8474398270

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Wilson Michael R
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001425908

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-08803
		FILM NUMBER:		08578494

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		708-448-1260

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		12601 SOUTH 104TH AVENUE
		CITY:			PALOS PARK
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60464
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-02-01</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000755003</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>MATERIAL SCIENCES CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>MSC</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001425908</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Wilson Michael R</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>12601 SOUTH 104TH AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>PALOS PARK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>IL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>60464</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Vice President of Operations</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>8</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-02-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>20000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2011-02-01</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2018-02-01</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>20000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>20000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Award of non-qualified stock options issued under the 1992 omnibus plan</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>MICHAELR.WILSON</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-02-05</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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