Rohm and Haas...National Historical Chemical Landmark

"The ACS established the chemical landmarks program fifteen years ago to acknowledge chemists' roles in expanding frontiers of knowledge, advancing medicine and industry, and creating products ranging from aspirin to zippers."

I was not aware of such a program.

"Rohm and Haas Chemistry Declared National Historic Chemical Landmark by American Chemical Society"

Eco-Friendly Water-Based Acrylic Emulsion Technology Designated with Landmark Status

September 4th, 2008

MarketWatch

The development of water-based acrylic emulsion technology -- found in everything from house paints to adhesives, roof coatings, highway line markings and home insulation -- by Rohm and Haas Company has been designated a National Historic Chemical Landmark by the American Chemical Society (ACS). The landmark status will be conferred by the world's largest scientific society during ceremonies in Philadelphia on September 15th.

The ACS established the chemical landmarks program fifteen years ago to acknowledge chemists' roles in expanding frontiers of knowledge, advancing medicine and industry, and creating products ranging from aspirin to zippers. Rohm and Haas's acrylic emulsion technology joins such esteemed company as flame-retardant cotton, Bakelite plastics, the introduction of nylon, the creation of Scotch(R) transparent tape, and Tide(R), the first heavy-duty synthetic laundry detergent.

"It is quite an honor to be recognized as the key developer of acrylic emulsion technology by such an esteemed organization as the ACS," said Raj L. Gupta, chairman and CEO, Rohm and Haas Company. "The pivotal role Rohm and Haas has played reflects the inventiveness and leadership of both our customers and the thousands of employees whose work has transformed multiple industries -- all the while eliminating the air pollution caused by the technologies our water-based chemistry replaced. The good news is that there is tremendous life yet for acrylic emulsion technology. We continue to find new markets and geographies for our chemistry -- breaking barriers in industrial and building applications that were once thought impossible. The best may be yet to come for acrylic emulsion technology."

Thomas H. Lane, Ph.D., ACS president-elect, will present a commemorative plaque for the landmark designation to Rohm and Haas on September 15th.

"The ACS has recognized only 62 chemical landmarks since the inception of the program in 1993. This makes the award to Rohm and Haas a mark of distinction for contributions that reach far beyond the boundaries of scientific practitioners, touching many lives over many decades," said Lane, who is director, Global Science and Technology Outreach and Senior Research Scientist, Dow Corning Corporation.

"Rohm and Haas is dedicated to developing technologies that are not only integral to how we live today, but that are also environmentally advanced," said Pierre R. Brondeau, president and chief operating officer, Rohm and Haas. "This prestigious honor validates what the company has strived for since its inception nearly 100 years ago. We are committed to continuing to take this innovation and extend its applications even further into the future."

In recent years, Rohm and Haas has been successful in bringing environmentally advanced technology to uses in industrial coatings, where applying high-performance water-based technology on metal surfaces was once thought impossible. In addition, the technology has proven beneficial to rapidly developing economies such as China, Russia and Eastern Europe where the environmental advantages of acrylic emulsion technology are particularly attractive in helping reduce pollution.

For the past 55 years, acrylic technology has revolutionized the $42 billion global paint market and completely changed the way we paint our homes. The technology helps keep roofs cool and led to the development of water-based adhesives for packaging and automotive uses. The technology is so pervasive that many U.S. roadways and runways have been marked with acrylic traffic paint technology -- including the runway on which the Space Shuttle lands in Florida.

Pioneered by Rohm and Haas, water-based acrylic technology for the paint market has taken 20 million tons of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) out of the air since 1953 based on studies conducted by the company.This is the equivalent of six pounds of fewer pollutants in the air for every man, woman and child alive in the world as of August 1, 2008.

In addition to being better for the environment, acrylic paint is resistant to aging and weathering, and performs exceptionally well. Rohm and Haas constantly subjects paint formulations to various weather conditions and climates on more than 42,300 test panels in 14 exposure sites around the world, including China, Brazil, Australia and Sweden. Today, acrylic technology is also being used to replace harsher alternatives, such as formaldehyde in building materials, and asphaltic materials used to dampen sound vibration in automobiles.

About Rohm and Haas Company

Leading the way since 1909, Rohm and Haas is a global pioneer in the creation and development of innovative technologies and solutions for the specialty materials industry. The company's technologies are found in a wide range of industries including: Building and Construction, Electronics and Electronic Devices, Household Goods and Personal Care, Packaging and Paper, Transportation, Pharmaceutical and Medical, Water, Food and Food Related, and Industrial Process. Innovative Rohm and Haas technologies and solutions help to improve life every day, around the world. Based in Philadelphia, PA, the company generated annual sales of approximately $8.9 billion in 2007.

About National Historic Chemical Landmarks

The American Chemical Society established the National Historic Chemical Landmarks program in 1992 to recognize seminal historic events in chemistry and to increase public awareness of the contributions of chemistry to society. Designations through the prestigious program have included the invention of Bakelite, the discovery of penicillin and streptomycin, the development of Tide laundry detergent, and the work of historical figures, including Joseph Priestley, Antoine Lavoisier, and George Washington Carver, among others.

The American Chemical Society -- the world's largest scientific society -- is a nonprofit organization chartered by the U.S. Congress and a global leader in providing access to chemistry related research through its multiple databases, peer-reviewed journals and scientific conferences. Its main offices are in Washington, D.C., and Columbus, Ohio.


National Historical Chemical Landmarks

ACS National Historical Chemical Landmarks

Rohm and Haas