ATOFINA Introduces Finathene® XT10 N

A bimodal high-density polyethylene for piping systems needing superior physical properties.

Houston - ATOFINA Petrochemicals, Inc. introduced Finathene® XT10 N, a new bimodal high density polyethylene (HDPE) resin for pressure pipe applications requiring superior physical properties, by developing an entirely new catalyst and manufacturing technology to give improved performance in piping systems.

Finathene® XT10 N, produced in Bayport, Texas, has a Plastics Pipe Institute (PPI) TR-4 listing as ASTM PE3408 and an ASTM D 3350 cell classification of 345564. Testing for a PPI MRS10 designation will be completed in the fourth quarter of 2003, adding Finathene® XT10 N to ATOFINA's global family of Finathene® PE100 products. Our European-based Finathene® XS10 PE100 resins have enjoyed solid growth in European and Asian markets for almost a decade.

Finathene® XS10 B, a pre-compounded black PE100 grade, anchors a product line that also features blue and orange PE100 resins. ATOFINA inventories XS10 B locally for North American consumption.

Produced in North America for over 20 years, Finathene® bimodal grades have been used for demanding gas pipe applications where standard monomodal PE3408 resins do not provide the necessary toughness or security. From this manufacturing platform, and with the experience and know-how derived from years of use, Finathene® XT10 N was developed and is now available to the market.

With overall plastics capacities in excess of 4 million tons, ATOFINA ranks among the world's leading suppliers to the plastics market. In HDPE, ATOFINA's gas phase, slurry loop, continuous stirred tank (CSTR) and slurry double loop polymerization plants rank among the industry's largest and most advanced facilities.

ATOFINA produces polyethylene on seven sites around the world: Antwerp and Feluy in Belgium, Gonfreville, Carling, Balan and Mont in France, and Bayport, Texas in the United States. 2003 production capacities on both sides of the Atlantic represent some 2 million tons. ATOFINA is also part of a joint venture in Qatar, and is currently finalizing negotiations with Samsung Chemicals on a further joint venture in Korea.

ATOFINA Petrochemicals, Inc., headquartered in Houston, Texas, produces polypropylene, polyethylene, polystyrene, styrene, base chemicals and transportation fuels. With sales of $4.3 billion in 2002, ATOFINA Petrochemicals Inc. employs approximately 1600 people in the U.S. and is part of ATOFINA, one of the largest chemical companies in the world with approximately 70, 000 employees worldwide and 2002 sales of $18.2 billion (EURO 19.3 billion). ATOFINA Petrochemicals, Inc. has manufacturing facilities in Texas and Louisiana as well as a R&D facility in La Porte, Texas and a refinery in Port Arthur, Texas.