GREAT LAKES LAUNCHES POLYBROMINATED STYRENE FLAME RETARDANT THAT OFFERS UNIQUE COMPATIBILITY IN HIGH PERFORMANCE POLYESTERS AND POLYAMIDES

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS—Great Lakes Chemical Corporation (NYSE:GLK) today announced the launch of Firemaster® CP-44HF flame retardant, a high flow, polybrominated styrene co-polymer that offers unique compatibility in thermoplastic polyesters and high temperature polyamides.

Firemaster CP-44HF flame retardant provides higher thermal stability, increased flow, and, much like the company's Firemaster® CP-44B flame retardant, demonstrates improved compatibility in the host polymer, namely engineering polymers such as PBT, PET, other specialty thermoplastic polyesters, and most polyamides. Its lower molecular weight also allows Firemaster CP-44HF to work well in applications such as connectors, where the miniaturization and thin walling of parts is a key issue.

"The trend towards lead-free solder and the production of much smaller, thinner-walled electrical components is causing processing issues for the industry," said Bill Neagle, Great Lakes' vice president of business management for flame retardants. "Firemaster CP-44HF offers our customers improved stability and processability without compromising flame retardancy, and it stands up to the high processing temperatures required for these applications. The result is improved color stability and a reduced tendency for delamination during molding."

The latest in Great Lakes' broad family of polybrominated styrene-based flame retardants, Firemaster CP-44HF, offers additional advantages compared to other flame retardants including excellent physical properties in unreinforced polymers or fibers, non-blooming, improved efficiency with synergists, and, in some applications, a reduction in drip suppressant levels.

Great Lakes is the world's leading producer of flame retardants with an aggressive commitment to technological innovation and product development. Its extensive line of products includes 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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