GE Plastics Introduces New `Game Changing' Weatherable GELOY XTW Resin for Outdoor Applications CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 24, 2003-- New Resin Offers Up To Five Times The Color And Gloss Retention Of Traditional ASAs GE Plastics, a division of General Electric Company (NYSE: GE), announced today the development of GELOY(R) XTW resin, a new weatherable ASA resin that withstands the punishing effects of UV exposure better than traditional ASAs in a variety of outdoor applications.
Tests conducted by GE Plastics indicate GELOY XTW resin offers 3-to-5 times the color and gloss retention to extend the performance and aesthetics in large thermoforming sheet, building and construction, and automotive applications. GE Plastics will spotlight this innovative product in the GE Plastics' booth at National Plastics Exposition in Chicago (McCormick Place, South Hall, Booth #2215) from June 23-27. Key features of GELOY XTW resin include a prolonged delay in aesthetic shift after seven to ten years, brighter whites and an extended color palette. A range of gloss levels from 20 to 90 percent is available in both extrusion and profile material grades. Furthermore, GELOY XTW resin is highly compatible with ABS and PVC as capping stock. Injection molding grades are enhanced by a superior balance of impact, flow and aesthetic appeal.
Innovation And Performance GELOY XTW looks to be a game-changing innovation that responds to customer demands for superior weathering, gloss and physical property retention after prolonged exposure to UV light, said Dean Ditmar, Global GELOY(R) resin product manager for GE Plastics. You need much more than just additives to get a step-change in weathering, color shift and aesthetic performance over time. GELOY XTW resin represents a significant breakthrough in ASA weatherability technology, which will expand opportunities in key areas such as building and construction, automotive and thermoformed applications.
Validation Tests Validation of GELOY XTW resin includes accelerated G26, SAE J1960 and QUV weathering tests, as well as actual Florida and Arizona exposure tests. By the second half of this year, GELOY XTW resin will have undergone two years of outdoor testing. All tests to date are confirming the technology, and our belief that this is a game-changing resin in terms of weatherable performance, Ditmar commented. Potential Applications According to Scott Dansey, GELOY resin extrusion product manager for GE Plastics, the building and construction industry is very interested in GELOY XTW resin for its ability to withstand prolonged UV exposure. Customers are currently validating siding applications, including those in blues, earth tones and other darker colors.
As we continue to introduce GELOY XTW resin to new applications during the next 12 months, we'll also offer this technology for global fencing, decking, and window applications. For automotive applications, GELOY XTW resin is being validated in cost- effective system solutions that call for a molded-in-color, high performance weatherable product, with a long term potential of eliminating paint. The high gloss retention rate of the resin makes it a prime candidate for mirror shell housings, appliques and other exterior components.
A high-heat, injection-moldable grade of GELOY XTW resin is currently in the validation and sampling process, with plans to expand the customer base during the second half of the year. Large thermoformed parts for spas, tractors, watercraft, golf carts and other outdoor vehicles are being evaluated as potential applications for GELOY XTW resin. Technical Breakthrough We are very proud of the technical team that invented GELOY XTW resin, and the outstanding performance - and value - that this product brings to our customers, said Tom Hammoor, general manager of Engineered Styrenic Resins for GE Plastics. This introduction is the culmination of more than 10 years of product investment, and is a clear result of customer input.
GE Plastics is a leading producer of engineering thermoplastics, with major production facilities worldwide. GE Plastics materials, including LEXAN(R) polycarbonate, are used in a wide variety of applications such as CDs, automobile parts, computer housings, cookware, outdoor signage, cell phones, bullet-resistant shielding and building materials. Through its LNP Engineering Plastics business, the company is a worldwide leader in the custom compounding of engineering thermoplastics.
GE Plastics is also a global distributor of sheet, film, rod and tube products through GE Polymershapes and GE Structured Products. In 2003 GE Plastics is celebrating the 50th Anniversary of LEXAN polycarbonate, discovered in 1953 by GE chemist Dr. Daniel W. Fox. The company's web site is located at www.geplastics.com, and to learn more about LEXAN visit www.gelexan.com.
GELOY and LEXAN are registered trademarks of General Electric Company. Note: A photo is available at URL:
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CONTACT: GE Plastics
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or
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