PHILADELPHIA, July 13 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- According to specialty materials producer Rohm and Haas, their innovative water-based Aquaset(TM) acrylic thermosetting technology* will help fiberglass insulation manufacturers to produce formaldehyde-free insulation batts to reduce the overall level of chemical emissions inside a home, and in doing so, improve indoor air quality. With Americans spending approximately 90 percent of their time indoors, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), this new technology is expected to be well received by homeowners and building contractors alike.

"Tight" homes can trap emissions

Appropriate insulation, properly installed, is one of the simplest ways to lower a home's energy costs. In fact, proper insulation can reduce energy bills up to 40 percent compared to homes with deficient materials and installation. In an effort to maximize energy savings, builders often strive to make a home as "tight" as they can, allowing as little air leakage as possible.

During the manufacture of insulation batting, filaments of fiber are spun from molten sand and bound together with a resin. Until now, that resin typically contained formaldehyde, a compound coming under increasing scrutiny by environmental regulatory agencies worldwide. New water-based Aquaset resin enables manufacturers to offer fiberglass insulation with performance that is comparable, under the same conditions, to traditional insulation, without the concern of formaldehyde emissions.

Improving human welfare through innovation

Environmentally advanced Aquaset acrylic thermosetting technology from Rohm and Haas was recognized by the American Chemical Society (ACS) with a 2006 Heroes of Chemistry award. Each year, this ACS award program recognizes the vital role of industrial chemical scientists and their companies in improving human welfare through successful commercial innovations and products.

For more information about Aquaset acrylic thermosetting binders, contact Rohm and Haas by phone at 215-592-3000 or through their web site http://www.rohmhaas.com/

About Rohm and Haas Company

Leading the way since 1909, Rohm and Haas is a global pioneer in the creation and development of innovative technologies and solutions for the specialty materials industry. The company's technologies are found in a wide range of industries including: Building and Construction, Electronics and Electronic Devices, Household Goods and Personal Care, Packaging and Paper, Transportation, Pharmaceutical and Medical, Water, Food and Food Related, and Industrial Process. Innovative Rohm and Haas technologies and solutions help to improve life everyday, around the world. Based in Philadelphia, PA, the company generated annual sales of approximately $8.2 billion in 2006. Visit http://www.rohmhaas.com/ for more information. imagine the possibilities(TM)

*Aquaset technology is not made with formaldehyde-based materials nor does it release formaldehyde under normal cure conditions.

Rohm and Haas Company

CONTACT: Laura Hadden, Director of Communications, Specialty Materialsof Rohm and Haas Company, +1-215-592-3054, LHadden@rohmhaas.com

Web site: http://www.rohmhaas.com/

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