New PP Resin Provides Outstanding Clarity and Toughness for Pharmaceutical, HIC and Food Packaging

HOUSTON, November 12, 2002 - Equistar Chemicals LP has introduced a new clarified random copolymer-designated Petrothene® PP33HF04-for use in extrusion or injection blow molding packaging applications. The resin was developed as a less expensive alternative to polyethelene terephthalate (PET), for applications where a good balance between clarity and toughness is necessary.

The resin's narrow molecular weight distribution provides excellent warp resistance as well as precise, consistent shrinkage. In packaging applications such as containers for home products, pharmaceuticals or food, these attributes ensure that the packaging retains its shape, closes properly and holds its contents securely. The resin's copolymer also provides a nice balance between stiffness, which aids mold ejection, and toughness, which provides impact resistance.

PP33HF04 has inherent resistance to chemical and detergent attack and meets US FDA requirements for contact with food, making it particularly useful for packing household chemicals and food respectively.

With a melt flow rate of 1.9 g/10 minutes, PP33HF04 provides excellent processability and works well over a broad range of operating conditions, which contributes to faster cycling.

PP33HF04, now commercially available, is Equistar's latest offering for extrusion, injection and injection stretch blow molding packaging applications. Other products include PP7200GF and PP7200AF, non-clarified, general-purpose injection blow grade polymers; PP7200AF also contains an anti-static agent.

An integrated supplier with a total of nearly seven billion pounds of annual capacity in PP, HDPE, LLDPE and LDPE, Equistar offers a wide range of manufacturing technologies to produce resins for an assortment of end-use applications including film, blow molding, rotomolding, extrusion coating and thermoforming.

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Equistar Chemicals, LP, headquartered in Houston, Texas, is a joint venture between Lyondell Chemical Company and Millennium Chemicals Inc. and combines their olefins, polymers and oxygenated chemicals businesses. Equistar is one of the world's largest producers of ethylene, propylene and polyethylene and a leading producer of ethylene oxide, ethylene glycol, polypropylene, specialty polymers, wire and cable resins, and polyolefin powders. Equistar was formed in December 1997 and has manufacturing sites located primarily along the U.S. Gulf Coast and in the Midwest.