New Materials Increase Efficiency of Energy Storage and Medical Therapeutics

Solvay announces that its affiliate for fluorinated speciality polymers, Solvay Solexis, has struck a joint development agreement with Strategic Polymer Sciences (SPS), specialised in polymeric electronic materials. The agreement is about large-scale production of ultra-high-energy density capacitator dielectric materials based on biaxially-oriented Polyvinylidene Fluoride (PVDF). PVDF-capacitators can achieve about ten times higher energy loads compared to capacitators based on conventional materials. Solvay ranks second worldwide in fluoromaterial production.

SPS has patents on using these materials in capacitator applications, which are aimed at a variety of specialty markets, such as hybrid electric vehicles. Some of the main benefits from these materials for hybrid electric vehicle systems are lower cost and weight-saving and thus an increased energy-efficiency. The global capacitator market for hybrid vehicles is estimated at a conservative 1.6 billion USD by 2015.

Ultra-high-energy density capacitators are also used in medical applications, such as defibrillators. Defibrillators are medical devices which serve to detect cardiac arrhythmia and correct it by delivering a jolt of electricity.

"This agreement demonstrates how innovation can improve our everyday-life by delivering products which enable us to save energy or to improve medical care", said Pierre Joris, President of Solvay Solexis. "This is fully in line with the direction in which Solvay Solexis wishes to develop. The prospects for such new products look very promising", he added.

"This joint development agreement with one of the world's top chemical companies is an important step in the growth of Strategic Polymers," said Ralph Russo, co- founder, president and CEO of Strategic Polymer Sciences. "The agreement will enable SPS technology to enter the market much more quickly and allow Solvay to enter a new high-value market."

Strategic Polymer Sciences, Inc. (SPS) is a closely held company which commercializes polymeric electronic materials and devices that will revolutionize energy storage and medical therapeutics. Strategic Polymer Sciences was founded in 2006 by Ralph Russo-a Silicon Valley business leader with prior senior executive experience at Apple Computer, AlliedSignal, Nortel, and Bay Networks-and Dr. Qiming Zhang-Distinguished Professor of Electrical Engineering and Materials Science at The Pennsylvania State University and one of the world's leading experts in electroactive materials. The company is headquartered in State College, PA.

SOLVAY is an international chemical and pharmaceutical Group with headquarters in Brussels. It employs more then 28,000 people in 50 countries. In 2007, its consolidated sales amounted to EUR 9.6 billion, generated by its three sectors of activity: Chemicals, Plastics and Pharmaceuticals. Solvay is listed on the NYSE Euronext stock exchange in Brussels.

Source: SOLVAY