DuPont Plans Manufacture of Greener Automotive Products

NEW TECHNOLOGYDuPont Plans Manufacture of Greener Automotive ProductsWILMINGTON,DE (June 15, 2007) - DuPont has introduced Cerenol, its next polymer family made from 100 percent renewable resources. This new product line joins the Sorana family of polymer family made with corn instead of petroleum. Unlike petroleum-based or other plant-based alternatives, Cerenol is easily tailored to meet specific needs and performs better than conventional products in many end uses while providing environmental benefits. Cerenol's advantages include being renewable and biodegradeable, non-flammable, lower in volatility, toxicity and reactivity, and being easier to handle, process and transport. Cerenol is a family of renewably sourced, high-performance polyols (polyetherdiols). Cerenol can replace petroleum-based ingredients or finished products without compromising functionality, and is well-suited to diverse markets including personal care, functional fluids and high-performance elastomers. End-use products range from automotive components, paints, resins and lubricants to sportig goods, elastic fibers, inkjet cartridges and personal care products. Cerenol will be the building block for two other renewably sourced automotive products from DuPont. First, Cerenol will provide increased chip resistance and flexibility for new automotive primers and clearcoats from DuPont Performance Coatings that will be available in the first quarter of 2008. Second, grades of the company's Hytrel thermoplastic elastomers and resins made with Cerenol will be available in late 2007 and will offer performance comparable to conventional grades. "Since customers want environmentally smart options that do not compromise performance, we are pleased to now offer both Sorona and Cerenol - two high-performance polymers that are engineered to meet or exceed the performance of their petroleum-based counterparts," said DuPont Bio-Based Materials Vice President Peter Hemken.(Source: DuPont)