Mitsui Chemicals to launch liquid EPDM

Tokyo -- Mitsui Chemicals, Inc. intends to introduce a liquid EPDM, to complement its existing range of solid EPDM polymers. Mitsui manufactures and sells EPDM under the trade name Mitsui EPT, used in automotive parts, wire and cables and other industrial parts.

The new material, dubbed Mitsui EPT L series, will be made in the company's existing factory at Iwakuni in Japan, starting from 2006. The company said products would be available for sale at the start of fiscal 2006. Mitsui is aiming for sales of over Yen 1000 million (Euro 7 million) by 2011.

In a statement, Mitsiui said, "Mitsui EPT L series is viscous, liquid EPDM at ordinary temperatures. It has an advantage in fluidity, being suitable for precision mouldings." Mitsui said the product, "is expected to expand its applications to sealing parts for electronic and electrical products, which impose high accuracy in thickness."

The material solidifies even at ordinary temperatures by using various modifications, impossible in the existing EPDM. It is, said Mitsui, used as raw materials of sealants and adhesives in construction and civil engineering since it solidifies on site. After it gets rigid, it becomes a rubber, having a superior feature equivalent to the existing EPDM.