KELTAN® ACE™ TECHNOLOGY ON TRACK FOR 2009 MARKET INTRODUCTION

Heerlen, 11 September 2008 - DSM Elastomers has announced that the development of Keltan® ACE™ is on schedule. This follows last year’s decision to invest in the implementation of a new advanced catalyst technology in one of its existing EPDM facilities in Geleen, the Netherlands.

This new technology, referred to as Keltan ACE technology enables the production of a new class of innovative Keltan products. ACE is the acronym for Advanced Catalysis Elastomers.

Herman Dikland, Business Manager for Keltan ACE says: “All engineering activities have now been completed. With construction formally started after a ground breaking ceremony on April 24th 2008, we are on schedule for mechanical completion of the plant by the end of 2008, following a first Keltan ACE production run.”

Excellent value proposition

The first Keltan ACE products are set to be available in early 2009. These products will contain high amounts of 2-vinyl-5-norbornene (VNB) as third monomer and provide excellent peroxide curing efficiency.

Overall, these high-VNB products offer an excellent value proposition, by opening new opportunities for cost-effective compounding of Keltan formulations that require peroxide curing. Customers will be able to lower the amount of peroxide while maintaining material properties and thus improving the cost/performance balance. Alternatively, compounds can be loaded to a much higher extent, while maintaining material properties. Moreover, the balance of physical properties and high temperature resistance can be markedly improved with this new class of Keltan products.

According to Mr. Dikland, the main applications for this amorphous high-Mooney product are expected in peroxide cure gasket and hose formulations: “Extensive studies have demonstrated a multitude of benefits that can be effected with high-VNB products.

“Apart from the significant savings on cross linking peroxide, the reduction of peroxide has associated benefits in terms of reduction of bloom, odor, taste and improvement of electrical properties and heat resistance.

The Keltan ACE catalyst system allows the creation of so-called hyper-branched structures. The highly branched, high molecular weight polymer strands improve compound integrity under high-shear conditions (strain hardening), notably in polymer-rich formulations. This in turn offers improved product appearance at higher extrusion outputs.

Mr. Dikland concludes: “This addition to our portfolio will further enhance the reputation of Keltan as a leading EP(D)M brand in the market. The High VNB products are the first productions in line. Our R&D and Marketing & Sales departments are currently exploring further innovations for other polymers of this technology platform.”

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