Tuffak® XL Polycarbonate Sheet from Altuglas International Utilizes Proprietary Technology to offer Dramatic Performance Improvements

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Anita Palmieri
Phone: 215-419-5013
Philadelphia, PA - March 20, 2008

Altuglas International, maker of the high-quality lines of Plexiglas^® acrylic sheet and Tuffak^® polycarbonate sheet products, recently introduced its next-generation Tuffak^® XL polycarbonate sheet that offers exceptional levels of performance in terms of light diffusion behavior and weathering characteristics.

“Signs illuminated by LED sources conserve energy and reduce operating costs, and our latest product offers the market a unique polycarbonate sheet that eliminates hot spots to achieve an even glow,” claims Thomas DeMain, business manager. “But this property doesn’t mitigate its durability – it’s 300 times stronger than single-strength glass.”

Produced via a propriety process that creates a built-in UV barrier, the sheet’s advantages include extended life, longer-term yellowing resistance, greater diffusion properties to hide light sources, and higher light transmission properties to lower power requirements. Based on extensive testing by Altuglas International, Tuffak^® XL polycarbonate sheet displays better weathering properties than many other polycarbonate sheet products.

 According to Dr. Manuel Garcia-Leiner, a scientist at the company’s Polymer Technology Center in King of Prussia, PA, this latest advancement of the Tuffak^® XL polycarbonate sheet product offers low-angle scattering improvements that disperses light efficiently at any viewing angle. “This sheet has a brightness factor that remains consistent regardless of viewing angle. Even at high angles, light is transmitted homogeneously due to a significant increase in the half-gain angle of about 70 degrees.”

For more information about Tuffak^® XL polycarbonate sheet, please visit the Altuglas International web site at www.altuglasint.com.

About Altuglas International
Altuglas International, a business of Arkema, is a global leader in PMMA and uses two widely known trademarks for its resin and sheet – Altuglas^® in the Asia-Pacific region, Europe, Africa and the Middle East, and Plexiglas^® in North and Latin America.

www.altuglasint.com
www.plexiglas.com

About Arkema Inc.
Arkema SA is present in the United States through its subsidiary Arkema Inc., headquartered in Philadelphia, PA. Arkema Inc. employs 2,500 employees, operates 15 production facilities, and accounts for 25 percent of global revenues.