Dow Opens Texas Elastomers Lab; Completing La. EPDM Project
September 18, 2009

The Dow Chemical Co. announced Thursday the opening of a new laboratory for the Elastomers Business.

The lab is located at Dow's Freeport R&D facility. It is used for the compounding, mixing, processing and testing of thermoset elastomers. The lab complements the existing polymer analysis, material science and physical testing capabilities at the site in support of Dow Elastomers technical service, application development, and research and development of polymer products including NORDEL IP hydrocarbon rubber, ENGAGE polyolefin elastomers, VERSIFY plastomers and elastomers and INFUSE olefin block copolymers.

Dow also is in the final stages of completing a 25 million pound debottleneck project at its Plaquemine, La., ethylene-propylene-diene monomer (EPDM) site. The project will be completed in first quarter 2010. The plant will continue to operate at full rates during the project. "NORDEL IP is an important product family to Dow Elastomers, and we will continue to invest to meet growing demand of our customers," said Luis Cirihal, business director at Dow Elastomers.

Source: Dow Chemical Co.

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