Houston, November 12, 2003 --Lyondell Chemical Company (NYSE:LYO) has commercialized a line of high performance aqueous pigment dispersants for coatings and inks.

Designated Ethacryl™ P, the water-soluble, polycarboxylate comb-branched copolymers form a powerful bond to the surface of the pigment and stabilize the dispersion through steric and electrostatic forces. Use of the new dispersants may reduce milling times, increase pigment loading and enhance flocculation stability.
 

Aqueous pigment dispersions formulated into paints and inks with Ethacryl P dispersants promote desirable properties including high color strength and gloss. The pH insensitive dispersants are compatible with both organic and inorganic pigments, as well as most commonly used humectants and co-solvents.
 

Ethacryl dispersants are a growing family of comb-branched copolymer dispersants that can enhance the properties of many products and applications. The unique pendant groups of these water-soluble, polycarboxylate copolymers give Ethacryl dispersants its comb-branched structure and excellent stabilization properties.

For more information, visit www.ethacryl.com.
 

# # #

Lyondell Chemical Company, (www.lyondell.com), headquartered in Houston, Texas, is a leading producer of: propylene oxide (PO); PO derivatives, toluene diisocyanate (TDI), propylene glycol (PG), butanediol (BDO) and propylene glycol ether (PGE); and styrene monomer and MTBE as co-products of PO production. Through its 70.5% interest in Equistar Chemicals, LP, Lyondell also is one of the largest producers of ethylene, propylene and polyethylene in North America and a leading producer of ethylene oxide, ethylene glycol, high value-added specialty polymers and polymeric powder. Through its 58.75% interest in LYONDELL-CITGO Refining LP, Lyondell is one of the largest refiners in the United States, principally processing extra heavy Venezuelan crude oil to produce gasoline, low sulfur diesel and jet fuel.