Ashland to showcase its wind power portfolio at AWEA 2011 expo

Ashland to showcase its wind power portfolio at AWEA 2011 expo DUBLIN, Ohio – Renewable wind-energy technology is rapidly expanding, and Ashland Performance Materials, a commercial unit of Ashland Inc. (NYSE: ASH), continues its progress in bringing advanced composite and adhesive materials to this industry.

As an active participant with a number of universities in wind-energy research projects, Ashland will showcase its innovative technologies at the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) Wind Power 2011 Conference and Exposition, May 22-25 in Anaheim, Calif.

“Ashland’s early focus on the wind-energy industry has positioned us for great partnerships and growth as use of this technology expands,” said Kevin Lambrych, global wind-energy program manager, Performance Materials. “One of our products, Derakane™ 601-200 epoxy vinyl ester resin, can improve cycle times by 25 percent in infusion blade manufacturing processes, as compared with epoxy resin systems.”

In addition to Derakane resin, Ashland’s Pliogrip™ structural adhesives will be featured at the exposition. Pliogrip adhesives deliver superior bonding performance and are becoming an essential part of nacelle construction. A longtime choice for bonding automobile composite body assemblies and specialty components, Pliogrip structural adhesives can bind a number of materials including fiberglass reinforced plastic, carbon-fiber reinforced plastic, thermoplastic olefins, steel and aluminum.

Another innovation featured at the exposition will be Ashland’s Envirez™ resins, formulated to contain up to 22 percent renewable content from soybean oil and corn derived ethanol. Envirez resins are designed to provide users with a reliable, environmentally responsible choice when compared with traditional resin technology. Envirez resins meet or fall well within performance guidelines for use in wind energy construction.

For more information about Ashland’s wind-energy technologies contact Kevin Lambrych at (614) 790-3730 or by email at krlambrych@ashland.com.

Ashland Performance Materials is the global leader in unsaturated polyester resins and epoxy vinyl ester resins. In addition, it provides customers with leading technologies in gelcoats, pressure-sensitive and structural adhesives, coatings and metal casting consumables and design services.

In more than 100 countries, the people of Ashland Inc. (NYSE: ASH) provide the specialty chemicals, technologies and insights to help customers create new and improved products for today and sustainable solutions for tomorrow. Our chemistry is at work every day in a wide variety of markets and applications, including architectural coatings, automotive, construction, energy, personal care, pharmaceutical, tissue and towel, and water treatment. Visit www.ashland.com to see the innovations we offer through our four commercial units – Ashland Aqualon Functional Ingredients, Ashland Hercules Water Technologies, Ashland Performance Materials and Ashland Consumer Markets (Valvoline).

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