Free of Isocyanates and Plasticizers, GE's SPUR+* Prepolymers for Adhesives, Sealants, and Coatings Adhere Better to a Wide Range of Materials.

WILTON, Conn. -- Addressing customer need for low-viscosity, high-performance prepolymers without added plasticizers, GE Advanced Materials-Silicones has introduced SPUR+* Y-15735 LM prepolymer, the low modulus member of a new family of next-generation silylated polyurethane resins for adhesives, sealants, and coatings applications. GE's SPUR+ prepolymers offer exceptional adhesion to a wide range of porous and non-porous substrates: metals, glass, ceramics, and plastics - even wet, primerless concrete. Specifically, SPUR+ Y-15735 LM prepolymer is three times as fast in tack-free time, and enhances deep-section cure under ambient conditions by about 50 percent, compared to similar resins with earlier silane end capping technologies. Enhanced deep-section cure can benefit applications that use a thick layer of adhesive or sealant. GE's SPUR+ 1050 MM prepolymer is a medium modulus product for industrial applications where a tougher resin is required.

GE's SPUR+ prepolymers have no residual isocyanates, avoiding the problem of isocyanates' reactivity with many additives, such as UV inhibitors and antioxidants, which typically deactivate the additive or the isocyanate itself.

"Our innovative, versatile SPUR+ prepolymers are designed to help formulators grow their business," said Bruce Waldman, GE global marketing manager, SPUR+ Prepolymers. "They allow adhesion to a broad variety of substrates, avoiding the cost of developing specialized sealants or adhesives for different types of materials. The clear, non-yellowing resin is also durable, weatherable, and immediately paintable. When high performance is paramount, our SPUR+ materials deliver - whether it's keeping the weather out of your house, securely attaching skyscraper windows, or holding your car's windshield in place."

In conjunction with Adhesives & Sealants Industry Magazine, GE Advanced Materials-Silicones is offering a free web seminar "New SPUR+ Prepolymer and New Silquest* Adhesion Promoters for Concrete" on Oct. 18, 2005 at 11:00am EDT. Visit www.adhesivesmag.com/events to attend.

Through proprietary technology, GE's SPUR+ product line provides benefits to formulators and end users alike. For formulators, GE's SPUR+ prepolymers offer:

--Formulation ease: The elimination of plasticizers and isocyanates allows the addition of the widest range of additives without reactivity.

--Longer shelf life: Provides greater inventory flexibility and longer service life of sealants and adhesives.

--Low viscosity, no plasticizers: Allows formulators seeking to improve the performance of their products to select different plasticizers, or to optimize their properties by mixing thixotropic agents with the prepolymer before the addition of the plasticizer. SPUR+ prepolymers are free flowing at room temperature for easy handling.

For end-users, GE's SPUR+ prepolymer products provide:

--Faster deep cure and faster tack-free performance: Allows quicker completion of the job, especially when a thick coat of sealant/adhesive is required.

--Immediate paintability: Saves waiting time.

--Primerless adhesion to a wide range of substrates: Eliminates time and cost of applying primer, and enables one sealant/adhesive to be used for multiple materials.

--Eliminates isocyanates: A formulation free of potentially harmful isocyanates.

Application areas for GE's SPUR+ prepolymers include building and construction, industrial, and consumer markets. For the building and construction market, the GE material provides sealant flexibility, which is a fundamental requirement for the ASTM C-920 standard. For the industrial and consumer sectors, the modulus and tensile strength of the SPUR+ materials are important, as well as non-yellowing and immediate paintability, when formulating a white or clear sealant.

About GE Advanced Materials 

The Advanced Materials business of General Electric Company is headquartered in Wilton, Conn. Advanced Materials is a global leader in providing high-technology material solutions. The Advanced Materials' portfolio includes silicone-based products and technology platforms, silanes, fused quartz, ceramics, sealants and adhesives. Experience more at www.geadvancedmaterials.com.

GE (NYSE: GE) is Imagination at Work - a diversified technology, media and financial services company focused on solving some of the world's toughest problems. With products and services ranging from aircraft engines, power generation, water processing and security technology to medical imaging, business and consumer financing, media content and advanced materials, GE serves customers in more than 100 countries and employs more than 300,000 people worldwide. For more information, visit the company's Web site at www.ge.com.

As a Worldwide Partner of the Olympic Games, GE is the exclusive provider of a wide range of innovative products and services that are integral to a successful Games. From providing power, lighting, security and modular space solutions at Olympic venues to supplying ultrasound and MRI equipment to help doctors treat athletes, GE works closely with the Organizing Committees, local municipalities and other Olympic Partners to understand their needs and then deliver solutions that only GE can. NBC Universal, a division of GE, is the exclusive U.S. media partner of the Games. The GE and NBC Universal partnerships extend through 2012.

* SPUR+ and Silquest are trademarks of General Electric Company.