Houston, January 20, 2004 -- Lyondell Chemical Company (NYSE:LYO) has commercialized a series of high-performance dispersants for wallboard, architectural finishes, floor underlayment, ceiling tiles, joint compounds and other gypsum-based products.
Designated Ethacryl™ G, these copolymer dispersants provide fluidity to gypsum slurry at reduced water content, resulting in shorter drying times, faster line speeds, less waste water and an overall system cost savings. At current water levels, Ethacryl G can reduce dispersant consumption by 50 percent to 80 percent.
Supplied as a 40 percent aqueous solution, Ethacryl G dispersants are nearly colorless, making them well suited for specialty gypsum applications, where color is a concern. The water-soluble polycarboxylate copolymers contain unique polyalkylene oxide polymer "teeth" that give them a "comb-branched" structure and excellent stabilization properties. Ethacryl G dispersants provide the user the flexibility to reduce water or reduce dispersant usage.
Through its leading position in propylene oxide and its 70.5 percent ownership of Equistar Chemicals, LP, a producer of propylene, ethylene, and ethylene oxide, Lyondell produces the key raw materials found in Ethacryl.
"This gives Lyondell a unique position in the market, because it brings the strength of key raw material integration to the manufacturing and marketing of these dispersants," says Frank Liotta, Manager, New Product Commercialization. "This combined with our strong technology position allows Lyondell to expand its Ethacryl product line to include products for use in pigment, coatings, concrete and detergent applications."
Current domestic production capacity exceeds 35 million pounds per year, and additional capacity is slated to come on stream in Europe in early 2004.
For more information, contact (610) 359-2078 or visit www.ethacryl.com.
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