New BASF Basonal™ binders now available to North American paper industry

CHARLOTTE, N.C., May 3, 2001 - As part of a global product launch, BASF today announced that its new Basonal™ binders line is now available to the North American paper and paperboard industry. This new technology offers manufacturers improvements in binding power, blister resistance and printing properties compared to traditional latex binders.

Binders play a vital role in the performance properties of coated paper and paperboard. They "bind" coating pigments to the sheet, and impart specific printing capabilities and optical properties to paper and paperboard. Typical coated paper and paperboard products include catalogs, magazines, mail inserts, and packaging for cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and food.

Basonal binders are manufactured by using a "multi-monomer" concept. This involves balancing the performance properties of the raw materials used to make binders -- acrylics, acrylonitrile, butadiene and styrene monomers - with polymerization parameters to meet individual customer requirements. Another key advantage offered by Basonal binders is BASF's ability to quickly develop tailor-made products once customer requirements have been identified. This advanced approach enables paper and paperboard manufacturers to improve efficiency and quality.

According to Phil Williams, Business Director, Paper Chemicals for BASF, the new Basonal technology represents an entirely new binder concept for paper manufacturers. "Because the system for producing coated paper is very complex and involves many components, customers need solutions that are optimally tailored to specific conditions. Our customers demand more than just traditional solutions, especially in the highly competitive, globally changing marketplace. By drastically reducing the amount of time needed to develop customized binders, we can systematically react to adjustments in process conditions, new coating equipment installation or changing market conditions," he said.

Williams said that all relevant components are evaluated when customized Basonal binder formulations are developed. These include the base paper, coatings and pigments used, machine speed, rheology, coating and drying equipment, environmental requirements and other general conditions. He added that the new Basonal binder technology is backed by BASF's worldwide technical service, research and development, global supply capability and other customer support systems.

The Dispersions and Paper Chemicals group, part of BASF Corporation, is a leading worldwide developer, manufacturer and marketer of high-performance products for the industrial and architectural coatings, papermaking, adhesives raw materials, asphalt and the textile nonwovens and carpet backing markets in North America. With headquarters in Charlotte, N.C., this BASF business unit operates a state-of-the-art Technical Center in Charlotte, as well as production facilities in Monaca, Pa.; Chattanooga, Tenn.; Appleton, Wis.; and Altamira, Mexico.

BASF Corporation and its subsidiaries rank as the third largest producer of chemicals and related products in the United States, Canada and Mexico, with sales of $7.9 billion in 2000. Based in Mount Olive, New Jersey, BASF Corporation is the North American affiliate of BASF Aktiengesellschaft (Ludwigshafen, Germany), which is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the trading symbol "BF."

"We don't make a lot of the products you buy. We make a lot of the products you buy better.®" summarizes BASF's diverse product mix including chemicals, polymers, automotive and industrial coatings, colorants, nylon fibers and agricultural products. BASF in North America employs more than 15,000 people at more than 50 locations. BASF Corporation can be found on the Internet at www.basf-corp.com.

Basonal and slogan are trademarks of BASF Corporation.