ATOFINA joins the PE 100+ Association

Press Release 20 September 2000
ATOFINA joins the PE 100+ Association

At the 20th of September, chemical company ATOFINA joins the PE 100+ Association. ATOFINA'smaterial, Finathene® XS 10 H, has successfully met the PE 100+ resin requirements and, as a consequence, has been admitted to the Association's Positive List of materials.

Finathene® XS 10 H belongs to the family of Finathene® Hexene Bimodal Copolymers, which is characterised by outstanding mechanical characteristics and superior melt strength.

ATOFINA, the chemical branch of the TotalFinaElf group, was created in April 2000 from the merger of the chemical, petrochemical and oleochemical activities of TotalFina and Elf Aquitaine. ATOFINA is the world's fifth largest chemical company. ATOFINA is active in intermediates, engineering and functional polymers, adhesives, paints and petrochemicals. With polyethylene plants located in Europe and the United States (producing about 1.7 Mio t), the company's key concepts are innovation, experience, quality, safety and performance.

The PE 100+ Association
Founded on the 24th of February 1999, the PE 100+ Association is an industry organisation of several polyethylene (PE) manufacturers. Its objective is to guarantee consistent quality at the highest level in the production and the use of PE 100 pipe material. By monitoring the most critical properties of enhanced requirements, it is able to issue a "PE 100+ Association Positive List of Materials" on a regular basis. The Association also aims to create a marketing platform to promote the use of PE piping in general.

As the goal is to set higher performance standards than those founded in CEN/ISO, more demanding tests are carried out by independent, internationally-respected laboratories, namely Creep Rupture Strength, Stress Crack Resistance, and Resistance to Crack Propagation. At present, following companies have met the PE 100+ requirements; Borealis, Elenac, Solvay Polyolefines Europe, and now,ATOFINA.