Stronger, Faster, Higher -- the Next Generation of Nordel EPDM

Since 1963, NORDEL™ EPDM is a proven and reliable brand that meets the growing demand for higher quality, more consistent product.  It is differentiated from older, Zeigler-Natta (Vanadium) catalyzed EPDM products due to  state-of-the-art catalyst and plant process control strategies, providing  low ash content in the polymer while offering consistent and gel-free material that has set the high standard for use in automotive, infra-structure, and consumer markets world-wide.  Dow is positioned to raise the bar and be competitively advantaged with new products and higher capacity to meet the growing demands of the industry, starting in 2016 with start-up of the new US Gulfstream NORDEL™ EPDM facility.   Continued investment and R&D development is focused to expand DOW’s EPDM product portfolio; offering advanced molecular architectures, further addressing the needs for increased productivity and higher performance.  Stronger polymers enabled by advanced molecular catalysts that are rheology tailored for rapid mixing, higher molecular weight polymers for property extension, and high diene containing polymers for fast curing.  This paper will discuss the advances in technology that will lead the next generation of NORDEL EPDM.