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Hong Kong -- Dow Epoxy, a global business unit of The
Dow Chemical Company and its affiliates ("Dow"), has introduced
FORTEGRA™ Epoxy Tougheners, low viscosity materials for use in amine,
DICY,anhydride and phenolic cured epoxy systems.
FORTEGRA Epoxy Tougheners are suitable for any applications where properties
of epoxies such as adhesion, corrosion and chemical resistance are needed,
but greater mechanical performance is required. The FORTEGRA line is based
on a specially designed self-assembling block co-polymer that creates
the particles needed for toughening the cured epoxy and, at the same time,
does not result in big changes to other properties such as viscosity,
cure speed or chemical resistance.
"With FORTEGRA Epoxy Tougheners, formulators no longer have to make
big compromises on key properties to improve the toughness of epoxy systems
as they are forced to do today with alternative materials," said
Ohnishi Hideyuki, global business director for Dow Epoxy's Performance
Resins group. "We have had positive results in trials with select
customers, who have found it easier than ever with FORTEGRA Epoxy Tougheners
to enhance the flexibility and toughness of their applications, without
significantly changing the chemistry of their formulations. And because
these toughening products are effective at levels as low as 3 to 10 percent
by volume, not as much is needed compared to similarly priced alternative
products - making FORTEGRA Epoxy Tougheners a more reasonable choice."
Dow Epoxy is offering FORTEGRA Epoxy Tougheners in four forms to make
it easy for customers to incorporate into their formulations. FORTEGRA
100 is the Dow proprietary epoxy toughening agent. Two of the grades -
FORTEGRA 383-50 and FORTEGRA 383-5 - are blends of D.E.R.™ 383
Liquid Epoxy Resin with a 50 and 5 weight percent respectively of the
toughening material. The remaining grade, FORTEGRA 664-12, is a 12 weight
percent blend of the toughening material in D.E.R. 664, a medium molecular
weight solid epoxy resin used mainly in powder coatings.
Dow Epoxy is introducing the FORTEGRA Epoxy Toughener line into specialized
industries where they will provide the greatest value, including: liquid
protective coatings for steel and concrete, functional and decorative
powder coatings, function and recreational composites and adhesives.
"With this patented toughener technology, Dow is demonstrating its
ever-increasing commitment to the delivery of innovative 'difference
making' material solutions," added Hideyuki. "In the case
of the FORTEGRA line, we are responding to formulators' need for
a product that imparts the desired toughness with no big tradeoffs in
other properties and end-use performance. We are pleased to offer this
advanced building block so formulators can differentiate and create new
value for the customers and industries they serve."
About Dow Epoxy
Dow Epoxy is one of the world's largest epoxy resins
and intermediates manufacturers, with strong positions in a number of
major application areas, including coatings, electrical laminates and
civil engineering. Dow Epoxy, through a new business unit known as Dow
Epoxy Systems, also serves as a formulator for users of specialty epoxy
systems in many industries, including civil engineering, specialty industrial
and protective coatings, composites (including wind energy) and others.
About Dow
Dow is a diversified chemical company that harnesses the power of innovation,
science and technology to constantly improve what is essential to human
progress. The Company offers a broad range of products and services to
customers in more than 175 countries, helping them to provide everything
from fresh water, food and pharmaceuticals to paints, packaging and personal
care products. Built on a commitment to its principles of sustainability,
Dow has annual sales of $49 billion and employs 43,000 people worldwide.
References to "Dow" or the "Company" mean The Dow
Chemical Company and its consolidated subsidiaries unless otherwise expressly
noted.
Source: Dow Chemical Company
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