FIRST KELTAN ACE™ PRODUCT NOW AVAILABLE

Heerlen, 8 May 2009 – DSM Elastomers has formally presented its first EPDM grade to be manufactured using Keltan ACE™ technology. Keltan DE8270C is now available for sampling and sales.

Keltan DE8270C is the first of a new class of innovative Keltan products to be manufactured in DSM’s EPDM facilities in Geleen, the Netherlands, using a new advanced catalyst technology referred to as Keltan ACE™ technology.

According to Herman Dikland, Business Manager for Keltan ACE™, customers in various application segments have evaluated the new product on their production lines: “Without exception customers have recognized the new product’s benefits – and first sales have been initiated, even before official product launch.”

Keltan DE8270C contains a large amount of 5-vinyl-2-norbornene (VNB) as third monomer and provides unprecedented peroxide curing efficiency. High-VNB products offer new opportunities for cost-effective compounding of Keltan formulations that require peroxide curing. Customers will be able to lower the amount of peroxide and coagent whilst 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.

Primary focus is on applications currently using peroxide cure EPDM, such as e.g. coolant hoses, window gaskets and belts. However, also applications that currently rely on sulfur curing and even applications that currently do not make use of EPDM are targeted.

“For our customers it is clear that the use of high-VNB products is not only about making compounds cheaper. For instance, a reduction of peroxide has associated benefits in terms of reduction of bloom, odor, taste and improvement of electrical properties and heat resistance. Moreover, the amorphous nature of the product is key in meeting low-temperature requirements.

One other product benefit is the scorch-safe processing of compounds which is giving enhanced product and process performance in (injection) molding applications. In one case, a customer that makes complex injection molded parts could reduce scrap rates considerably.”

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. This new Keltan ACE™ grade will be fully supported by DSM Elastomers’ running business teams, with customer response teams on all continents. Quality and supply of product are secured by DSM Elastomers’ management control systems.”

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