23 Feb 2004
GE PLASTICS INTRODUCES NEW “GAME CHANGING” WEATHERABLE GELOY® XTW RESIN FOR OUTDOOR APPLICATIONS
New Resin Offers Up To Five Times The Color And Gloss Retention Of Traditional ASAs
CHICAGO—June 23, 2003—GE Plastics, a division of General Electric Company (NYSE: GE), announced today the development of GELOY® XTW resin, a new weatherable ASA resin that withstands the punishing effects of UV exposure better than traditional ASAs in a variety of outdoor applications. Tests conducted by GE Plastics indicate GELOY XTW resin offers 3-to-5 times the color and gloss retention to extend the performance and aesthetics in large thermoforming sheet, building and construction, and automotive applications. GE Plastics will spotlight this innovative product in the GE Plastics’ booth at National Plastics Exposition in Chicago (McCormick Place, South Hall, Booth #2215) from June 23-27.
Key features of GELOY XTW resin include a prolonged delay in aesthetic shift after seven to ten years, brighter whites and an extended color palette. A range of gloss levels from 20 to 90 percent is available in both extrusion and profile material grades. Furthermore, GELOY XTW resin is highly compatible with ABS and PVC as capping stock. Injection molding grades are enhanced by a superior balance of impact, flow and aesthetic appeal.
Innovation And Performance
“GELOY XTW looks to be a game-changing innovation that responds to customer demands for superior weathering, gloss and physical property retention after prolonged exposure to UV light,”said Dean Ditmar, Global GELOY® resin product manager for GE Plastics. “You need much more than just additives to get a step-change in weathering, color shift and aesthetic performance over time. GELOY XTW resin represents a significant breakthrough in ASA weatherability technology, which will expand opportunities in key areas such as building and construction, automotive and thermoformed applications.”
Validation Tests
Validation of GELOY XTW resin includes accelerated G26, SAE J1960 and QUV weathering tests, as well as actual Florida and Arizona exposure tests. By the second half of this year, GELOY XTW resin will have undergone two years of outdoor testing. “All tests to date are confirming the technology, and our belief that this is a game-changing resin in terms of weatherable performance,” Ditmar commented.
Potential Applications
According to Scott Dansey, GELOY resin extrusion product manager for GE Plastics, the building and construction industry is very interested in GELOY XTW resin for its ability to withstand prolonged UV exposure. “Customers are currently validating siding applications, including those in blues, earth tones and other darker colors. As we continue to introduce GELOY XTW resin to new applications during the next 12 months, we’ll also offer this technology for global fencing, decking, and window applications.”
For automotive applications, GELOY XTW resin is being validated in cost- effective system solutions that call for a molded-in-color, high performance weatherable product, with a long term potential of eliminating paint. The high gloss retention rate of the resin makes it a prime candidate for mirror shell housings, appliqués and other exterior components. A high-heat, injection-moldable grade of GELOY XTW resin is currently in the validation and sampling process, with plans to expand the customer base during the second half of the year.
Large thermoformed parts for spas, tractors, watercraft, golf carts and other outdoor vehicles are being evaluated as potential applications for GELOY XTW resin.
Technical Breakthrough
“We are very proud of the technical team that invented GELOY XTW resin, and the outstanding performance – and value - that this product brings to our customers,”said Tom Hammoor, general manager of Engineered Styrenic Resins for GE Plastics. “This introduction is the culmination of more than 10 years of product investment, and is a clear result of customer input.”
Reader enquiries
GE PlasticsPlasticslaan 1
4600 AC Bergen op Zoom
Netherlands
Helen Vandebovenkamp
helen.vandebovenkamp@ge.com
Tel: +31 164 29 20 97
Fax: +31 164 29 10 66
Netherlands
Notes for editors
GE Advanced Materials
GE Advanced Materials is a world leader in providing materials solutions through engineering thermoplastics, silicon-based products and technology platforms, and fused quartz and ceramics. Headquartered in Pittsfield, Mass., GE Advanced Materials is the combined entity of GE’s former Plastics, Silicones, and Quartz businesses. Its offerings include:
• Silanes, specialty silicones, urethane additives, adhesives, sealants, caulks, resins, and elastomers for a variety of vertical markets such as personal care, automotive, tire and rubber, construction, healthcare, electronics, household and institutional, agriculture, textiles, appliances, bedding and furnishings, and foam control, as well as the consumer “do-it-yourself” market (www.gesilicones.com);
• Engineering thermoplastics resins serving customers in a variety of industries including aerospace, appliances, automotive, building and construction, data storage and optical media, medical, electrical and electronics devices, telecommunications, computers and peripheral devices, outdoor vehicles and devices, and packaging (www.geplastics.com);
• High-purity quartz and advanced ceramic materials for the semiconductor, telecommunications, lighting, electronics, personal care, and water purification industries. GE Advanced Materials is a leading supplier of quartz materials to the semiconductor industry (www.gequartz.com).
Editorial enquiries
Marianne Schouten
GE Advanced Materials
Brigitta de Vries
Marketing Solutions NV