Ashland Inc. to showcase its complete construction solutions at ECS 2011

SCHAFFHAUSEN, Switzerland – Ashland Aqualon Functional Ingredients, a commercial unit of Ashland Inc. (NYSE: ASH), will promote its latest innovations designed to improve the performance and efficiency of construction-related products at this year’s European Coatings Show in Nürnberg, Germany, March 29 – 31.

Applications experts from Ashland’s Construction business unit will be available at stand 7-125 in Hall 7 to demonstrate the proven benefits of their comprehensive portfolio of chemistries. There will be opportunities for formulators and manufacturers to discover how Ashland can provide more options for performance improvements and control.

“As an established global additive supplier, Ashland is the single-source for cellulose ethers and redispersible powders for a wide range of dry mortar applications. Our products are proven to deliver a higher level of quality and performance, including improvements in the use of natural resources with dry-mixed mortars,” said Richard Cho, global marketing manager, Construction, Ashland Aqualon Functional Ingredients. “We recognize that construction applications are very diverse depending on where our customers are located around the world, and we are continuously focused on introducing new, market-oriented technology programs through our specialized dry-mortar applications laboratory.”

For building and construction applications, Ashland offers a broad portfolio of cellulose ethers, redispersible powders and companion products such as starch ethers, air-entraining agents and defoamers that help control and improve critical application properties, as well as the final performance, of end products ranging from gypsum plaster to joint compound and cement-based products.

At the European Coatings Show, Ashland will spotlight its Natrosol™ HEC derivatives for paste products such as latex-based plasters, wall putties and tile adhesives, as well as its unique range of Aquapas™ redispersible powders for improving the plasticity and adhesion of tile cement, gypsum plaster and self-leveling compounds. Aquapas redispersible powders are ideal for use in mortars designed to affix and finish Exterior Thermal Insulation Composite Systems (ETICS) and External Insulation and Finishing Systems (EIFS).

Ashland’s Culminal™ methylcellulose (MC) derivatives are specifically designed to improve the performance and ease-of-application of building materials by providing water retention and cohesiveness to mixtures. Culminal MC products are used to control thickening, water demand, workability, sag resistance, strength and other important properties of tile adhesives and cements, renders, ETICS and EIFS, gypsum plasters joint compounds, self-leveling compounds (underlayments) and masonry and mortar cements.

Ashland Aqualon Functional Ingredients is a leading producer of hydrocolloids, primarily cellulose ethers, worldwide. It provides specialty additives and functional ingredients that manage the physical properties of aqueous and non-aqueous systems including rheology control, water retention, bonding strength, film formation, conditioning, deposition and stabilization. Many of its products – used in paint and coatings, construction, food, personal care, pharmaceuticals, oil and gas field production and specialty industries – are derived from renewable and natural raw materials.

In more than 100 countries, the people of Ashland Inc. (NYSE: ASH) provide the specialty chemicals, technologies and insights to help customers create new and improved products for today and sustainable solutions for tomorrow. Our chemistry is at work every day in a wide variety of markets and applications, including architectural coatings, automotive, construction, energy, personal care, pharmaceutical, tissue and towel, and water treatment. Visit www.ashland.com to see the innovations we offer through our five commercial units – Ashland Aqualon Functional Ingredients, Ashland Hercules Water Technologies, Ashland Performance Materials, Ashland Consumer Markets (Valvoline) and Ashland Distribution.

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