Dow Corning Solar Solutions Introduces Three Materials to Support Photovoltaic Module Manufacturing

MIDLAND, Mich. (Map) - Following the launch of its first solar feedstock material (Dow Corning(R) PV 1101 SoG Silicon) last year, Dow Corning's Solar Solutions Group has extended its product offerings for the global solar energy market with an encapsulant and two potting agents that have been tested and qualified for solar applications.

"We're taking the guess-work out of figuring out which of the hundreds of available coatings, encapsulants, potting agents, sealants, adhesives and other related products work best for demanding solar energy applications," said Donald L. Buchalski, senior marketing specialist, PV module assembly and integration, for Dow Corning's Solar Solutions Group. "These products demonstrate our commitment to providing total solutions throughout the PV value chain."

Dow Corning(R) PV 6010 Cell Encapsulant forms a clear, durable protective laminate layer over the surface of photovoltaic (PV) solar energy cells, providing proven corrosion and delamination protection. It also provides electrical, high-temperature and ultraviolet stability with no discoloration, ideal for consumer goods' PV applications.

Dow Corning(R) PV 7010 and PV 7020 Potting Agents are designed to insulate PV cells' electrical junction boxes, providing excellent, cost-effective electrical insulation and long-lasting protection from moisture, heat and other environmental conditions. These materials remain flexible and stable over wide temperature variations (-40 degrees to 150 degrees C) and offer easy reparability and global availability. The PV 7010 offers a faster cure rate, while the PV 7020 has greater viscosity and thermal conductivity.

Dow Corning's Solar Solutions Group, established in 2001, provides a wide range of silicon-based products that improve the performance and durability of finished solar modules. The company is expanding its product offerings for cell manufacturing, module assembly and installation. Last September it introduced PV 1101 -- the industry's first commercially available solar-grade silicon feedstock derived from metallurgical silicon -- which extends manufacturers' limited supplies of polycrystalline silicon, the key raw material used in solar cell production.

Dow Corning's long-term commitment to sustainability and to the PV industry is supported by major investments in expanding manufacturing capabilities for metallurgical grade silicon in Brazil and polycrystalline silicon at Hemlock Semiconductor Corp. in Michigan. Hemlock -- a joint venture among majority owner Dow Corning, Shin-Etsu Handotai, Co., Ltd., and Mitsubishi Materials Corp. -- is the world's largest maker of polycrystalline silicon. To meet the solar industry's soaring demand for polycrystalline silicon, Hemlock is investing $500 million to double its production capacity by 2008, and expects to complete another $1-billion expansion by 2011.

About Dow Corning

Dow Corning Corporation (http://www.dowcorning.com) is a globally integrated provider of materials, application technology and services, and is focused on providing innovative technologies that help its customers to invent the future. For more information on Dow Corning Solar Solutions, visit http://www.dowcorning.com/solar. Dow Corning Corporation is equally owned by The Dow Chemical Company (NYSE: DOW) and Corning Incorporated (NYSE: GLW). More than half of Dow Corning Corporation's sales are outside the United States.