EXXONMOBIL CHEMICAL TO EXPAND EXXPRO™ SPECIALTY ELASTOMERS CAPACITY
03 April 2006 - ExxonMobil Chemical Co

ExxonMobil Chemical has announced today that it is doubling its production capability for its proprietary Exxpro™ specialty elastomers used in the construction of tire inner liners, as a result of new investment and recent operational improvements. The expansion of the company's plant in Baytown, Texas, is targeted for completion in the fourth quarter, 2006.

"This multimillion dollar investment in Exxpro capacity will support the development of new, higher air barrier inner liner technologies that target both passenger and commercial vehicle tires," said Art Sullivan, Global Butyl Polymers vice president, ExxonMobil Chemical Company. "At the same time, it further demonstrates our continued technical leadership and global supply commitment to customers in the tire industry."

ExxonMobil Chemical has furthered its technological advancement of tire inner liners based on its proprietary Exxpro polymer (brominated isobutylene para-methylstyrene copolymer). These technologies include both nano-composites and dynamically vulcanized alloys.

Prototype Exxpro polymer liners made with nanocomposites have been successfully processed into lighter weight commercial truck tires in a commercial tire manufacturing facility. Results indicate several benefits including reductions in tire cure time, liner gauge thickness, inflation pressure retention and intra-carcass pressure, as well as more than a 20 percent improvement in tire durability as expressed by "mileage to failure" ratings.

ExxonMobil Chemical's advancements with Exxpro polymer and DVA technology for tire inner liners represent continued improvements of the technology disclosed as part of a global licensing agreement with Yokohama Rubber Company in May, 2004. Recent results have demonstrated the exceptional air retention properties of this plastic/rubber "film" inner liner. As a result, liner downgauging offers another significant source for tire raw material reduction and tire light-weighting.

http://www.exxonmobilchemical.com

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