HORGEN, Switzerland--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- One of Dow’s (NYSE:DOW) latest breakthroughs – ultra-low formaldehyde acrylic binder technology for use in nonwoven materials – has been recognized for excellence by the international trade association serving the nonwovens industry.

PRIMAL™ ECONEXT™ 210 Acrylic Binder (formerly known as EXP-4411) earned an award of excellence as an innovative raw material for the nonwovens industry from EDANA, the European Disposables and Nonwovens Association. The award was given during ceremonies at the opening day of INDEX 11, the world’s leading nonwovens exhibition, which is taking place in Geneva, Switzerland.

“We are honored that our technology received such wonderful recognition,” said Anton van Beek, regional leader for Dow’s Packaging and Converting business. “Dow is committed to continually bringing new technology to the markets it serves.”

“The PRIMAL™ ECONEXT™ 210 Ultra-Low formaldehyde binder delivers a much appreciated solution for the industry because it addresses a previously challenging regulatory requirement,” said Professor Stephen Russell, member of the EDANA INDEX 11 Awards Jury and director of the Nonwovens Research Group at the University of Leeds in Great Britain.

PRIMAL ECONEXT 210 Acrylic Binder is one of the first products developed as part of a new technology platform by Dow that allows companies to make end-use nonwoven products without detectable formaldehyde. These products can be used for a wide range of disposable and re-usable nonwoven applications, but are particularly useful in market applications which might be formaldehyde sensitive – wipes, baby and adult diapers, medical/hospital underpads, medical packaging, drapes, gowns and facemasks, for example. Like other nonwovens products from Dow, the products from this new technology platform offer excellent wet strength, rapid fluid penetration (or hydrophobicity), and a soft hand. Dow has been making low and extremely low formaldehyde binders for textiles and nonwovens since the PRIMAL ECO™ line of products were first brought to market a few years ago.

The PRIMAL ECONEXT Technology Platform builds upon Dow’s earlier successes and well-known expertise in acrylic emulsion technology, which stretches back to the 1940s and the commercial success of water-based, acrylic consumer paints which created the consumer do-it-yourself market. Dow began working on low formaldehyde formulations for paint binders in the 1990s, and was the first to bring what was then called “formaldehyde-free” binders for the creation of home insulation in 2002, which eliminated all binder related emissions of formaldehyde during its manufacture. This breakthrough earned a top-ten ranking from the European Environmental Press in 2007, in association with the European Association of Environmental Professionals.

Dow’s comprehensive array of technologies and products for the health and hygiene, personal care, construction and filtration markets is on display throughout INDEX 11 from April 12^th to the 15^th. Dow’s expertise – with the theme of “Many Minds with One Purpose” – can be found at booth #1030 during the show. Dow offers a wide range of innovative products to meet the needs of consumer, medical and industrial markets around the world.

* Note: Dow categorizes its product as “ultra-low formaldehyde” when the cross-linking mechanisms of PRIMAL™ ECONEXT™ Acrylic Binders do not generate formaldehyde under normal operating conditions and when nonwovens chemically bonded with these binders can typically achieve measured formaldehyde levels below the detection limits of existing techniques (<5 ppm or 2 ppm, depending upon the industry standard determination method used).

About The Dow Chemical Company

Dow (NYSE: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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