AKRON, Ohio (April 26, 2006) - ExxonMobil Chemical has developed new Santoprene(TM) thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) grades which bond successfully to engineered thermoplastics (ETPs) in overmolding applications. New Santoprene(TM) TPE bonding grades eliminate the need for adhesives, bonding agents and physical or mechanical interlocks. This can reduce processing steps which can improve product development cycle times and reduce system costs. Additional benefits include a distinctive soft-touch feel and easy colourability, enhancing design flexibility. The combination of all these features and benefits can improve overall part performance and appearance.

"For many years, processors used mechanical interlocks or chemical agents to bond a soft TPE with a rigid ETP substrate in complex parts. This presented numerous problems such as a non-uniform contact surface, bonding failure, and high processing costs. For original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), these problems could result in part failure and high system replacement costs," said Seth Barron, Market Segment Manager.

The new Santoprene(TM) TPE bonding grades have been designed for applications which require a specific soft-touch feel, creative design and bonding to ETP materials. These include polycarbonate (PC), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), acrylonitrile styrene acrylate (ASA), acrylic (PMMA) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) using either two-shot injection molding or insert molding processes. An advantage of the new Santoprene TPE grades is their performance with room-temperature insert substrates and on thinner overmolds.

"The new grades will enable designers of products to be more creative and introduce more functional, soft-touch components into their designs. These grades will also enable designers to include multiple colours in their products which can improve aesthetics and achieve product differentiation," added Barron.

Available in two hardnesses, 60 Shore A and 75 Shore A, Santoprene TPE 291-60B150 and 291-75B150 retain full bond strength in various environments including hot air, oil and aqueous solutions. High bond retention values enable the design and manufacture of parts which offer high quality performance properties. These include long-term sealability and high bond strength retention to extend the product lifetime, durable soft touch feel, chemical and heat resistance (dishwasher safe) and slip resistant touch.

Santoprene(TM) TPE bonding grades have proved successful in innovative electronic applications such as MP3 player covers, mouse covers and various parts of video cameras.

About Santoprene(TM) specialty products

Santoprene(TM) specialty products, produced by an affiliate of ExxonMobil Chemical, are recyclable elastomers commonly used in appliance, automotive, consumer goods, plumbing, and other applications. ExxonMobil Chemical's Santoprene specialty products are the global leader in engineered TPEs, materials with the performance of rubber and the processing ease of plastic. Santoprene products are part of a broad portfolio of elastomers from ExxonMobil Chemical providing innovative elastomeric solutions combined with global support service in material selection, design, processing, and supply chain management, plastics technology, product quality and customer service with marketing operations in more than 150 countries around the world. For more information visit www.santoprene.com and www.exxonmobilchemical.com.

Note to editors:
Santoprene is a trademark of Advanced Elastomer Systems, L.P., Akron, Ohio.

The term "ExxonMobil Chemical" refers collectively to some or all of the companies affiliated with Exxon Mobil Corporation which have chemical manufacturing and/or marketing operations around the world.

Further information on engineered thermoplastic elastomers and vulcanizates can be obtained from www.santoprene.com.