BIRCH VALE, United Kingdom -- Dow Formulated Systems, a business unit of The Dow Chemical Company, has announced plans to launch a new line of HYPERLAST and DIPRANE non-mercury catalyzed polyurethane elastomer products.

At UTECH Europe 2012, Dow will be introducing a full suite of products that utilize non-mercury catalyst technology. These new materials use the previously successful backbone formulations and, through an innovative approach, the R&D team has enhanced the system with improvements in material processing and the final properties of the moulded elastomer.

Dow is committed to continually create todays and tomorrows solutions for helping make the world safer, healthier, cleaner and more sustainable for all of us. Within the Engineering Elastomers business this is as important as ever. There is public concern with mercury and phenylmercury substances and under the REACH Regulation (Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006): there is a proposal to restrict five phenylmercury substances. Dow has worked to remove the use of organo mercury catalysts from its polyurethane elastomer products.

Dow is rolling out a product range that helps the polyurethane processor benefit from knowledge that the materials in use are not impacted by REACH regulation and, therefore, will have supply longevity.

Other improvements include a study on sensitisation of low monomer TDI prepolymers, where it was identified that these products, at below 0.1% free TDI monomer, still have the potential to cause sensitisation. Dow will present a paper at UTECH Europe on April 18, 2012 as part of the ISOPA session, and will be available to discuss the study and TDI prepolymers that offer the processor confidence that we hold safety as number one.

The well-established one-pack elastomer MONOTHANE Polyurethane Systems range has been reformulated to provide enhanced, REACH-compliant material. Customers have endorsed the product and value the brand for its quality consistent performance in process and use.

About Dow

Dow (NYSE: DOW) combines the power of science and technology to passionately innovate what is essential to human progress. The Company connects chemistry and innovation with the principles of sustainability to help address many of the worlds most challenging problems such as the need for clean water, renewable energy generation and conservation, and increasing agricultural productivity. Dows diversified industry-leading portfolio of specialty chemical, advanced materials, agrosciences and plastics businesses delivers a broad range of technology-based products and solutions to customers in approximately 160 countries and in high growth sectors such as electronics, water, energy, coatings and agriculture. In 2011, Dow had annual sales of $60 billion and employed approximately 52,000 people worldwide. The Companys more than 5,000 products are manufactured at 197 sites in 36 countries across the globe. References to "Dow" or the "Company" mean The Dow Chemical Company and its consolidated subsidiaries unless otherwise expressly noted.

Source: Dow