Huntsman Polyurethanes’ VITROX® Resin System Selected as Finalist for CPI 2016 Polyurethane Innovation Award

The Woodlands, Texas – Huntsman Corporation (NYSE: HUN) announced today that its VITROX® resin system from its Polyurethanes division has been named a finalist for the Center for Polyurethanes Industry (CPI) 2016 Polyurethane Innovation Award. The award recognizes companies and individuals that bring new products, technologies and initiatives to the marketplace.

The award honors Huntsman’s VITROX-based polyurethane resin, which is utilized along with Huntsman’s automotive resin transfer molding (RTM)-grade epoxy and other chemistries in Bright Lite Structures LLC’s’ patent pending carbon fiber solution in the Zenos E10 sports car chassis. The chassis uses a novel sandwich construction with a thin layer of recycled and virgin carbon fiber and a central core of recycled plastic honeycomb.

The technologies form the skins and bond the carbon fiber to the plastic honeycomb core. The resulting chassis is lighter; features more complex shapes; less expensive and faster to manufacture, than those made from conventional composites. Additionally, the chassis meets or exceeds compression, stiffness and torsional rigidity requirements.

The VITROX resin system has been designed to have a low, stable initial viscosity with minimal viscosity increase; followed by a tunable induction period; and then a full, snap cure. This reaction behavior enables long working times in fabrication of large parts for automotive and other applications. At the same time, the VITROX resin system maintains the high physical property performance and impact strength for which polyurethane composite resin systems are best known. 

“Huntsman is honored to be recognized for this automotive application for VITROX resin, which truly qualifies as a forward-thinking advancement for the industry,” said Daniel Heberer, Technology Manager, Huntsman Polyurethanes.

“This year’s finalists for the Polyurethane Innovation Award exceed expectations and deliver an inspiring reminder of the virtually limitless potential polyurethane materials hold,” said CPI Senior Director Lee Salamone. “Each of the finalists demonstrates our industry’s tradition of innovation and pushes the boundaries of what is possible using today’s best knowledge and technical capabilities.”

Judges selected three Polyurethane Innovation Award finalists based on impact on the polyurethanes industry, uniqueness of the innovation, quality of the science and societal impact. Attendees will vote for the overall winner at the 2016 Polyurethanes Technical Conference, Sept. 26-28 in Baltimore. A winner will be announced during the closing session on Sept. 28.

Huntsman’s novel VITROX technology helped Bright Lite Structures win in the 2015 Materials Innovation category of the Most Innovative Composites Part Award at the Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE) Automotive Composites Conference & Exhibition (ACCE).

In 2012, Huntsman Polyurethanes’ VITROX resin technology received the CPI Polyurethane Innovation Award for a cure-in-place pipe (CIPP) application.

VITROX® is a registered trademark of Huntsman Corporation or an affiliate thereof in one or more, but not all, countries.

About Bright Lite Structures:
Bright Lite Structures, LLC develops and produces an advanced patent-pending carbon fiber solution that changes how automobiles and other products are designed and manufactured. For more information about Bright Lite Structures, please visit the company’s website at www.blstructures.com.

About Huntsman:
Huntsman Corporation is a publicly traded global manufacturer and marketer of differentiated chemicals with 2015 revenues of approximately $10 billion. Our chemical products number in the thousands and are sold worldwide to manufacturers serving a broad and diverse range of consumer and industrial end markets. We operate more than 100 manufacturing and R&D facilities in approximately 30 countries and employ approximately 15,000 associates within our 5 distinct business divisions. For more information about Huntsman, please visit the company's website at www.huntsman.com.

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Forward Looking Statements:
Statements in this release that are not historical are forward-looking statements. These statements are based on management’s current beliefs and expectations. The forward-looking statements in this release are subject to uncertainty and changes in circumstances and involve risks and uncertainties that may affect the company’s operations, markets, products, services, prices and other factors as discussed in the Huntsman companies’ filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Significant risks and uncertainties may relate to, but are not limited to, financial, economic, competitive, environmental, political, legal, regulatory and technological factors. In addition, the completion of any transactions described in this release is subject to a number of uncertainties and closing will be subject to approvals and other customary conditions. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that such transactions will be completed or that the company’s expectations will be realized. The company assumes no obligation to provide revisions to any forward-looking statements should circumstances change, except as otherwise required by applicable laws.

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While all the information in this publication is to the best of our knowledge, accurate at the date of publication, nothing herein is to be construed as a warranty, expressed or otherwise. In all cases, it is the responsibility of the user to determine the applicability of such information and the suitability of any products for its own particular purpose. The sale of products referred to in this publication is subject to the general terms and conditions of sale of Huntsman International LLC or of its affiliated companies.