Dow Wire & Cable Introduces a New Flame Retardant Compound for Use in High-Heat Environments

Düsseldorf, Germany - March 31, 2008

Dow Wire & Cable, a business unit of The Dow Chemical Company and its affiliates ("Dow"), today introduced in Europe UNIGARD™ RE HFDA-1492, a reduced-emissions flame retardant compound for use in wires and cables needed in high-heat environments, such as those found in automotive engines and appliances. Capable of tolerating temperatures of up to 125°C, the new compound also offers important processing, environmental tolerance and ease of installation benefits while meeting industry and end-use market specifications.

"UNIGARD RE HFDA-1492 addresses the growing need for materials that will support wires and cables in high-heat environments," said Thorne Bartlett, Director of New Business Development for Dow Wire & Cable. "The global automotive and appliance markets are good examples of evolving application areas for this product, with demand increasing for cables that will support increasingly sophisticated electronic systems in high-heat environments."

UNIGARD RE HFDA-1492 is a colorable, peroxide-crosslinkable, polyethylene copolymer insulation compound. It is approximately four percent lighter than traditional materials used in automotive wire and cable applications and delivers more output per pound, offering system cost benefits as a result. Designed to enable the manufacture of cables that are more flexible with lighter weight and improved color retention, HDFA-1492 also has a low specific gravity of 1.35 to help reduce the consumption of compound per cable length. Test with HFDA-1492 have also shown a 20-50% improvement in line speeds on Dow customers' existing equipment, compared to a commercial automotive compound. A broad processing window, from 105°C to 135°C, also supports potentially higher line rates.

UNIGARD RE HDFA-1492 additionally addresses important environmental and North American legislative requirements by providing PVC-like performance with LS0H (low smoke zero-halogen) advantages at a competitive cost.

The new compound is available immediately in commercial quantities in formulations that meet North American automotive specifications. It is the first of a family of high-heat compounds from Dow Wire & Cable that will expand to meet the needs of its customers in other regions of the world. In Europe, for example, Dow Wire & Cable is testing next generation irradiated solutions for T3 and other regional automotive specifications.

Note to editors: To seek an interview with a Dow Wire & Cable spokesperson, please contact Simon Dibb at +32 (0)2 413 03 40 or simon.dibb@porternovelli.be.

About Dow Wire & Cable
Dow Wire & Cable is the leading global provider of plastics-enhanced materials, technology solutions and expertise for wires and cables essential to the transmission, distribution and consumption of power, voice and data. For more than 60 years, Dow Wire & Cable, a business unit of The Dow Chemical Company and its affiliates ("Dow"), has set the global standard for assurance of wire and cable longevity, efficiency, ease of installation and protection. For additional information, please visit www.dowwireandcable.com.

About Dow

®™^* Trademark of The Dow Chemical Company ("Dow") or an affiliated company of Dow

For Editorial Information:

Deb Toledo
Dow Wire & Cable
+1 713 978 2189

Simon Dibb
Porter Novelli
+32 (0)2 413 03 40
simon.dibb@porternovelli.be

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