The Dow Chemical Company and Mitsui Chemicals, Inc., announced a joint development program under which Mitsui will develop markets in Japan for ethylene styrene interpolymers (ESI) from Dow – a new and novel family of thermoplastic polymers made possible by “Insite” Technology. Based on the copolymerization of ethylene and styrene and, potentially, other monomers, ESI exhibits unique properties such as stress relaxation and high mineral filler loading capability that will contribute to new applications.This joint development program will enable Mitsui to develop a new and highly valued growth business for ESI in Japan.

“Dow selected Mitsui as a development partner for ESI because of the two companies´ strong working relationship, Mitsui´s excellent reputation as a plastics supplier in Japan, and its ability to understand and meet the needs of Japanese customers,” says Romeo Kreinberg, Business Group President at Dow. “Our commitment to this program demonstrates both companies´ optimism regarding ESI´s long-term growth potential.”