SuperSolidsTM clearcoat lowers volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions more than 25 percent, while also improving scratch and mar resistance 60 percent for automotive finishes. The EPA will present the award during a ceremony to be held March 20 in Washington, D.C.

The EPA Office of Air and Radiation annually reviews nominations recognizing outstanding, innovative efforts that help improve air quality. The first commercial application of DuPontTM SuperSolidsTM clearcoat is on the 2002-03 Dodge Durango, produced at the DaimlerChrysler Newark, Del., assembly plant.

"The success of SuperSolidsTM is the result of close cooperation between DuPont coatings experts and DaimlerChrysler's engineers to ensure this technology delivers excellent results in actual production," said Edward J. Donnelly, group vice president - DuPont Coatings & Color Technologies.

New analytical techniques were crucial to the research and manufacturing development of SuperSolidsTM, which were conducted at the DuPont Experimental Station in Wilmington, Del., and the Troy Laboratories at DuPont Automotive headquarters in Troy, Mich. Launched in the spring of 2002, the innovation immediately lowered VOC emissions on the clearcoat production line by more than one quarter, in addition to eliminating more than 80 percent of the Hazardous Air Pollutant emissions from the complete topcoat process. The technology also reduced odors from the painting process by 50 percent. These improvements helped the DaimlerChrysler facility meet new permit requirements one year early.

DuPont achieves 65 percent solid content
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Contact: Anthony Farina
anthony.r.farina@usa.dupont.com
302-774-4114
DuPont
5-Mar-2003