Dow Introduces New Olefin Block Copolymer Using Symyx-Discovered Catalyst Family

Santa Clara, CA - Symyx Technologies, Inc. announced that The Dow Chemical Company recently introduced a major new materials innovation, INFUSE Olefin Block Copolymers, a new olefin-based elastomer with superior property performance compared with competitive materials. These polymers are currently being developed using a novel three-part catalyst system that includes a catalyst discovered during a collaboration between Symyx and Dow. Symyx expects to receive royalties from the sale of INFUSE products.

INFUSE is the second Dow product to use a catalyst discovered under a research collaboration between Dow and Symyx. The first was Dow's VERSIFY Plastomers and Elastomers, a new family of specialty propylene-ethylene copolymers, which was commercialized in September, 2004.

According to Dow, INFUSE features a unique block architecture that allows unprecedented control of the polymer chain which results in resins with high flexibility at varying temperatures, faster set-up time, greater elastic recovery, strong compression set performance and improved abrasion resistance. Applications may include elastic films, flexible molded goods, adhesives and foams in a diverse range of industries.

SOURCE: Symyx Technologies, Inc.