Dow Performance Foams Unveils SYNERGY Soft Touch Foams

with INDEX Interpolymers MIDLAND, Mich. (PROTEXT) - The Dow Chemical Company (NYSE:DOW) has expanded its Performance Foams business today with theintroduction of SYNERGY* Soft Touch Foams. Produced using INDEX*Interpolymers from Dow, the new foams exceed industry standardsfor softness and toughness, and are prime alternatives to cross-linked foams. SYNERGY 1000, SYNERGY 3000 and SYNERGY 5000 Soft Touch Foamsare designed for automotive materials handling, touch-sensitiveapplications, and protective and military packaging. Theseproducts are now available from Dow and its global authorizedfabricators. INDEX Interpolymers are a new and unique thermoplastic polymerfamily based on the copolymerization of ethylene and styrene, twohigh-volume monomers that previously were incompatible usingstandard Ziegler-Natta catalysts. "Dow is committed to focusing global resources and the besttechnology to bring new solutions to market," said Mark Henning,global business director for Dow Performance Foams. "INDEXInterpolymers are cutting-edge and combine the bestcharacteristics of polyethylene and polystyrene. SYNERGY Foamsrepresent the combined strength of ETHAFOAM* Brand Foams, INSITE*Technology and INDEX Interpolymers. We are the first supplieroffering these superior foams." The introduction of INDEX Interpolymers, produced via INSITETechnology, Dow's proprietary single-site constrained geometrycatalyst technology, has enabled Dow to expand its foam productsand service offerings. SYNERGY Soft Touch Foams are made from aproprietary blend of custom-designed low-density polyethylenesand Dow's advanced INDEX Interpolymers. According to Anthony Johnson, North America sales manager forDow Performance Foams, specific applications for SYNERGY SoftTouch Foams include internal and external transport of automotiveparts and components, padding, and protection of militaryelectronics equipment and munitions. "SYNERGY Foams offer selectcharacteristics that traditionally were only achieved bypurchasing high-priced, alternative foam materials," Johnsonexplained. "SYNERGY Foams are ideal for OEMs seeking soft, touch-sensitive materials that afford virtually no abrasion." The new foams are supplied in 2" x 24" x 108" (50 x 600 x 2700mm) planks and offered in natural and black. Each foam varies indegrees of softness and feel. SYNERGY 1000 has a density of 1.8pcf, 29 kg/m3; SYNERGY 3000, a softer foam, has a density of 1.6pcf, 26 kg/m3; and SYNERGY 5000, the softest grade, has a densityof 1.5 pcf, 24 kg/m3. Dow offers several varieties of SYNERGY Soft Touch Foams tomeet customers' needs. "The broad product range of SYNERGY Foamsfurther illustrates Dow's commitment to finding technology thatbest suits our customers, separating Dow from its competitors,"said Johnson. SYNERGY Soft Touch Foams are strong, resilient and easily usedas component materials in products requiring a soft touch and lowabrasion. Additionally, they are shock absorbing, vibrationdampening and insulating. They work great as barrier or buoyancycomponents, and as dunnage and cushioning components in packagingapplications. SYNERGY Soft Touch Foams are produced using RapidReleasetechnology, a proprietary process incorporating a patented CFC-and HCFC-free blowing agent system and an accelerated curingsystem that reduces the amount of blowing agents released intothe foam. RapidRelease technology, in combination with INSITETechnology and INDEX Interpolymers, give SYNERGY Soft Touch Foamsa level of performance and safety unmatched by competitiveofferings. "We've maintained more than 40 years of leadership in thepolyolefin foams and packaging industries and continue todemonstrate unsurpassed skill in these areas," said Henning. "No other company has the resources or the ability to quicklyleverage existing strengths and new technology like Dow. Theintroduction of these new, superior foam products is a testamentto our ability, success and leadership. "Our research and development activities will continue toprobe the limits of technology. We will continue to applycapabilities of advanced polymers and polymer blends to needs-based solutions," he added. SYNERGY Soft Touch Foams are only the first of Dow's advancedmaterials solutions to be unveiled in 1999. Illustrating itscommitment to customers as the first in technology andperformance, Dow Performance Foams is planning the introductionof more materials solutions made with INDEX Interpolymers thismonth, including QUASH* Sound Management Foams for the acousticalmarket and ENVISION* Custom Foam Laminates. The Dow Chemical Company is a global science and technology-based company that develops and manufactures a portfolio ofchemical, plastic and agricultural products and services forcustomers in 168 countries around the world. With annual sales ofmore than $18 billion, Dow conducts its operations through 14global businesses employing 39,000 people. The company has 121manufacturing sites in 32 countries and supplies more than 3,500products. For more information in Europe about SYNERGY Soft Touch Foams,contact Michael O'Connor, European Sales Manager, at ++ 49-7227-914-400. For more information in North America about SYNERGY Soft TouchFoams, contact the Customer Information Group at 1-800-441-4369and reference Element # 1740. More information about PerformanceFoams is available on its Web site at www.performancefoams.com.ots Original Text Service: The Dow Chemical Company Internet:http://www.newsaktuell.de Contact: in North America, GlendorahLawrence of The Dow Chemical Company, 517-636-0782, or e-mail,glawrence@dow.com; or Paul Oakley of Gibbs & Soell, Inc., 847-519-9150, ext. 116, or e-mail poakley@gibbs-soell.com, for TheDow Chemical Company; in Europe, Brian Hind of Gibbs & Soell,Inc., London, 00-44-171-736-0780, or e-mail, bhind@gibbs-soell.com, for The Dow Chemical Company Web site:http://www.performancefoams.com

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