ARALDITE® Non-post Cure Systems Reduce Processing Time for Electrical Parts

THE WOODLANDS, Texas., June 13, 2006 – To reduce time and costs required for casting electrical parts such as medium and high-voltage equipment, insulators, bushings, switches and transformers, Huntsman Advanced Materials has announced a new family of materials that are fully cured after demolding. ARALDITE non-post cure (NPC) systems maintain good mechanical and electrical properties while providing for fast processing, lower energy and handling costs and the need for less oven space. Specifically, with ARALDITE non-post cure (NPC) systems, casting customers report that they can typically decrease molding temperatures by up to 50ºF (10ºC), reduce demolding time by up to 20% for higher productivity, and increase filler loading by up to 65% without negatively affecting cured product performance. The NPC casting materials are also easy to handle with a lower viscosity than conventional systems because the chemistries provide for better filler wetting. Once cured, ARALDITE NPC materials exhibit good mechanical properties and thermal shock characteristics. * ARALDITE is a registered trademark of Huntsman Corporation or an affiliate thereof in one or more, but not all, countries. Huntsman is a global manufacturer and marketer of differentiated and commodity chemicals. Its operating companies manufacture basic products for a variety of global industries including chemicals, plastics, automotive, aviation, footwear, paints and coatings, construction, technology, agriculture, health care, textiles, detergent, personal care, furniture, appliances and packaging. Originally known for pioneering innovations in packaging, and later, rapid and integrated growth in petrochemicals, Huntsman today has 11,300 employees, 57 operations in 22 countries and had 2005 revenues of $13 billion.