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News Release

New Technology From Dow and Cannon Improves Energy Efficiency of Household Refrigerators by up to 10 percent

  • New insulation technology decreases fill time, doubles productivity of polyurethane insulation manufacturing process
  • Insulation technology increases energy efficiency of refrigerators and freezers by up to 10 percent

MIDLAND, Mich.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dow Polyurethanes, a business within The Dow Chemical Company (NYSE: DOW), in cooperation with Cannon SpA, will officially launch PASCAL™ Technology on September 9 at the Shanghai Summit 2011.

PASCAL™, a new polyurethane foam insulation technology that improves energy efficiency of refrigerators and freezers by up to 10 percent, was first featured in household refrigerators and freezers by Haier and is now commercially available to appliance manufacturers.

The Shanghai Summit 2011 brings together Italian and Chinese government officials, academic and industry leaders and media to share innovative insights on energy conservation and explore how transformational opportunities can contribute to economic growth and environmental sustainability. The summit is just one of the efforts in the collaboration of the Italian and Chinese governments toward making China a more sustainable country.

“This summit is the perfect venue to launch PASCAL,” said Bruno Barbet, Dow Polyurethanes global appliance market leader. “China is one of the largest single-home marketplaces for refrigerators and freezers, as well as a leading global export country, and PASCAL™ Technology can help support the goals of making China’s industrial divisions more sustainable for the future.”

Combining a proprietary polyurethane foam specifically formulated for this application, PASCAL™ Technology doubles the efficiency of insulation while continuing to provide thermal conductivity and adhesion—qualities that distinguish polyurethane from alternative types of insulation.

PASCAL™ is just one of the innovative solutions spurred by Dow’s commitment to addressing the world’s most critical challenges, including the need to conserve energy.

“Governments are setting more stringent mandatory minimum Energy targets, and consumers worldwide are demanding energy efficient appliances,” said Barbet. “With PASCAL, manufacturers may deliver on this demand, while also increasing energy efficiency and output during manufacturing.”

PASCAL Technology incorporates vacuum equipment from Cannon SpA, during the insulation process to bypass the deficiencies of standard insulation. The vacuum, paired with a hydrocarbon blowing agent, allows PASCAL polyurethane foam to fit into the small spaces traditional insulation might miss, especially in modern designs, and also mold to the contours of the appliance, reducing the amount of energy lost during consumer use. The resulting system can also decrease the insulation reactivity time from a standard of about five to three minutes.

For more information, please visit www.dowpascal.com.

About Dow Polyurethanes

Dow is the world's largest producer of propylene oxide (PO), propylene glycol (PG), and polyether polyols, and is a leading producer of quality aromatic isocyanates, such as MDI and TDI. Dow's polyurethane products enhance a broad range of applications including construction, automotive, furniture, bedding, appliance, decorative molding, athletic equipment and more. The business provides key ingredients, systems and solutions for rigid, semi-rigid and flexible foams, adhesives, sealants, coatings, elastomers and binders. VORANOL™ VORACTIV™ polyols exemplify Dow’s ongoing initiative to lead the industry in providing high-performance products that meet critical consumer needs. For more information, visit www.dowpolyurethanes.com, www.dowpg.com, www.dowpo.com and www.voractiv.com.

About Dow

Dow combines the power of science and technology with the “Human Element” to passionately innovate what is essential to human progress. The Company connects chemistry and innovation with the principles of sustainability to help address many of the world's most challenging problems such as the need for clean water, renewable energy generation and conservation, and increasing agricultural productivity. Dow's diversified industry-leading portfolio of specialty chemical, advanced materials, agrosciences and plastics businesses delivers a broad range of technology-based products and solutions to customers in approximately 160 countries and in high growth sectors such as electronics, water, energy, coatings and agriculture. In 2010, Dow had annual sales of $53.7 billion and employed approximately 50,000 people worldwide. The Company's more than 5,000 products are manufactured at 188 sites in 35 countries across the globe. References to "Dow" or the "Company" mean The Dow Chemical Company and its consolidated subsidiaries unless otherwise expressly noted. More information about Dow can be found at www.dow.com.

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Contacts

For editorial information:
The Dow Chemical Company
Melissa Jones, +1 989 636-2228
mcjones@dow.com
or
For editorial information:
Gibbs & Soell
Carlene Eck, +1 847 519 9150 ext. 2134
ceck@gibbs-soell.com