The former Monsanto nylon 6.6 business is to become part of the portfolio of Dow Plastics (European HQ: Bachtobelstr. 3, CH-8810 Horgen). A letter of intent signed recently calls for Dow to compound and market "neat" polymer produced by Solutia Inc (St. Louis, Missouri / USA), which incorporates the industrial busineses that formerly operated under the Monsanto name. Solutia's existing sales infrastructure for the polymer (trade name: "Vydyne") will transfer to the Dow organisation.

The companies said the "global strategic alliance" is aimed at promoting substitution of PA 6.6 for other materials in key injection moulded engineering plastics markets, including automotive, telecommunications, electrical and electronic and appliances, as well as to support enhanced application development. Solutia, which operates what it calls "the world's largest integrated nylon manufacturing facility" at Pensacola, Florida / USA, plans capacity expansions for 1999 and 2000.

Solutia will transfer no assets to the alliance, and will continue to operate separately in segments such as film and monofilament. The deal also will not apply to non-thermoplastics markets. Along with its "Vydyne" nylon moulding resins and extrusion polymers, Solutia also makes and markets nylon and acrylic fibres, plastic interlayers for laminated glass, plasticisers, and speciality resins.