GREAT LAKES FURTHER EXPANDS RANGE OF FLAME RETARDANTS FOR FLEXIBLE POLYURETHANE FOAMS

ORLANDO, FLORIDA—Great Lakes Chemical Corporation (NYSE:GLK) today launched Firemaster® 552, a new high performance flame retardant for mechanically cooled, flexible polyurethane foams, at the Polyurethanes Expo 2003 (Booth #511) held in Orlando, Florida on October 1-3, 2003.

Firemaster 552, a phosphorus-bromine flame retardant based on proprietary Great Lakes technology, offers the advantages of the long-established Great Lakes DE-62™ flame retardant, with such characteristics as superior resistance to foam discoloration and smoldering ignition, reduced effect on the physical properties of the foam, and excellent hydrolytic stability. However, Firemaster 552 is not based on brominated diphenyl ether (BDE) chemistry.

Firemaster 552 has been designed to improve processing efficiency by preventing the polymer degradation caused by mechanical air cooling of flexible polyurethane foam, thereby reducing product waste. Firemaster 552 is the latest addition to the Great Lakes Firemaster 550 family, a range of phosphorus-bromine flame retardants for flexible polyurethane foam that helps foam maintain key physical properties during processing and does not promote foam discoloration (scorch).

In addition, polyurethane foams formulated with Firemaster 552 allow producers to meet strict fire safety standards for automotive, furniture, bedding, and a wide selection of other foam applications.

Firemaster 552 is available in the Americas and Asia-Pacific regions only.

Great Lakes is the leader in flame retardant technology. Through its Polymer Additives division, the company offers an extensive line of bromine-, phosphorus-, and antimony-based flame retardants and other synergists, as well as a full line of UV stabilizers, antioxidants, blends and optical monomers. For more information about these product lines, please visit the Great Lakes Polymer Additives web site at www.pa.greatlakes.com.

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