Eastman Tritan™ Meets Market Demand for Superior Medical-grade Polymer

Kingsport, Tenn. — Feb. 11, 2009 — Eastman Chemical Company announced today that it will launch a new family of medical-grade polymers at the Medical Design & Manufacturing West trade show Feb. 9 to 12, 2009, in Anaheim, Calif. Medical grades of Eastman Tritan™ copolyester are innovative, clear polymers that deliver a balance of design, molding and end-product properties for medical devices.

Medical grades of Eastman Tritan™ copolyester provide outstanding lipid and chemical resistance; higher heat stability; easy processing; excellent long-term clarity; added durability and toughness; and are made without bisphenol-A (BPA) or halogens. This combination allows the new material to perform at a level comparable to, or in many cases superior to, other polymers in the medical industry.

“Eastman Chemical Company has supplied a wide range of materials to medical customers for more than 65 years. Based upon our industry understanding, we are confident that the launch of Eastman Tritan™ copolyester in this market will provide customers with a high-quality product that provides processing and performance advantages over heritage copolyesters, polycarbonates and acrylics,” said Helen Sirett, medical business segment manager, Eastman Chemical Company.

The new medical grades of Eastman Tritan™ copolyester are well-suited for a variety of medical-device applications that demand superior chemical resistance, clarity, hydrolytic stability and retention of properties after gamma, electron beam (E-beam) and Ethylene Oxide (EtO) sterilization. Additionally, Tritan™ provides exceptional protection against the negative effects of common materials that can lead to environmental stress cracking and deterioration in medical environments. Possible application options include IV system components, respiratory devices and blood therapy devices.

Recently, products using Eastman Tritan™ copolyester have been launched in the reusable sports water bottle, infant care, small appliance and housewares markets. These products showcase a new level of design flexibility, and are tough, durable and BPA-free, while offering glasslike transparency without risk of breaking.

For more information about Eastman Tritan™ copolyester, visit www.eastman.com/tritan.

About Eastman Chemical Company
Eastman manufactures and markets chemicals, fibers and plastics worldwide. It provides key differentiated coatings, adhesives and specialty plastics products; is a major supplier of cellulose acetate fibers; and produces PET polymers for packaging. As a Responsible Care® company, Eastman is committed to achieving the highest standards of health, safety, environmental and security performance. Founded in 1920 and headquartered in Kingsport, Tenn., Eastman is a FORTUNE 500 company with 2008 sales of $6.7 billion and approximately 10,500 employees. 

For more information about Eastman and its products, visit www.eastman.com or contact Lucy Stewart, global trade media relations, at +1-423-229-4229 or globalmediarelations@eastman.com.