DOW CORNING TO PIONEER DEVELOPMENT OF NEXT-GENERATION

MIDLAND, Mich. U.S.A. – May 26, 2004– Dow Corning Corporation has established a new global research center to pioneer the development of innovative technologies and applications for organosilane and silicon-containing chemicals.

The Surface and Interface Solutions Center (SISC), located in Belgium, Europe, is dedicated to designing innovative composites or molecules; processes; surface; interface and interphase technologies. It will serve the global needs of customers in multiple markets, including plastics, rubber, adhesives, sealants, coatings, textiles and electronics.

“The SISC will enable our customers to establish a competitive advantage by providing next-generation solutions and the best technical and business approaches to their challenges,” said Thierry Materne, Dow Corning global technology and business development manager, Silanes Products. “The solution may be something that helps a customer achieve improved performance or productivity, or it could be the result of working with a customer to develop a tailor-made approach based on the interface between silanes and other materials.”

The center, unique among Silanes manufacturers, is staffed by scientists and engineers linked to Dow Corning’s global network of technology experts and to external sources of expertise. They will focus on plastic and rubber applications and on material science for filler reinforcement, crosslinking and adhesion across a large cross section of products and industries.

“The center combines our technology expertise with our market knowledge to discover new opportunities that will meet the new and emerging needs of our customers,” said Mark Maxwell, Dow Corning strategic marketing director, Silanes Products. “We have made significant investments to support the silanes market in recent years, including adding manufacturing capacity and developing new technologies to support the Green Tire market. This investment will enable us to further grow our silanes product line and identify new opportunities for performance-enhancing solutions.”

The SISC is located within the Dow Corning Business and Technology Center at Seneffe, Belgium, which has world-class resources for research and development and for collaboration with customers and external partners. “A European facility enables us to provide global support for customers, complementing our existing facilities for silanes in Midland, Michigan, USA, and Chiba, Japan,” said Maxwell.

“Our goal is to be recognized as the global leader in surface and interface sciences and applications for silicon-containing chemicals. We can accomplish that by using the SISC to contribute significantly to our customers’ major technical and business achievements, and set new standards for the silanes industry.” said Materne.

Reader enquiries

Dow Corning - Silanes

United States
+1 989 496 4823

---

Notes for editors

Silanes Solutions. Distinctly Dow Corning.

As the pioneer of organosilane technology, Dow Corning has been improving customers' products and profitability for more than 50 years. With a full range of silanes product, formulation and application solutions, and rededicated global reach, reliable supply and world-class manufacturing operations, Dow Corning can meet virtually any company's silicone needs through its total solution offering and technology leadership. For more information, call +44 (0)1676 528 000.

Dow Corning (www.dowcorning.com) provides performance-enhancing solutions to serve the diverse needs of more than 25,000 customers worldwide. A global leader in silicon-based technology and innovation, offering more than 7,000 products and services, Dow Corning is equally owned by The Dow Chemical Company and Corning Incorporated. More than half of Dow Corning’s sales are outside the United States.