Florence, Ky., August 17, 2007 – Diolen Industrial Fibers is offering the first high-tenacity multifilament made with Fortron® polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), which is produced by Fortron Industries LLC, a joint venture of Ticona Engineering Polymers and Kureha Corporation. This high-performance yarn, called Diofort®, is inherently flame-retardant, has high durability, toughness and chemical resistance, and withstands extremely hot environments that can stress conventional multifilaments to their performance limits.

Diofort® multifilament is used to reinforce hydraulic oil hoses in power steering systems where it helps to reduce vibration and noise. It also can be applied in other vehicle systems, such as fuel lines and charge-air coolers, to provide resistance to high pressure and temperature while allowing for hose flexibility. Other possible applications range from industrial filter systems for flue gases and aggressive liquids to composites for aerospace systems.

Diolen makes Diofort® yarn in a multi-stage process. After plasticizing and extruding Fortron PPS in a multifilament extruder at the desired diameter, individual filaments undergo controlled stretching in a well-defined temperature range. This yields a high-tenacity multifilament yarn having excellent mechanical properties for use as reinforcement or in fabrics, nonwovens or other textiles. The yarns can be combined with glass, carbon and other polymer fibers to yield blended fabrics.

Fortron PPS gives the Diofort yarns and their fabrics excellent chemical resistance to withstand aggressive media, low water absorption, high strength to 190°C (about 375°F) and flame retardancy.

About Diolen Industrial Fibers
Diolen Industrial Fibers is a leading European polyester company with an international reputation for developing and manufacturing Diolen® PET yarns and Diofort® PPS yarns, both of high-tenacity, and high-quality chips of various polymers. Diolen yarns are used to build and strengthen a wide variety of industrial applications where safety and reliability are key factors, including tires, seat belts, tarpaulins, billboards, roofing constructions, hoses and mooring ropes. Customers worldwide are served from two production plants, one in Germany (Obernburg) and the other in the Netherlands (Emmen). Diolen has its own research facilities in Emmen and sales offices in Arnhem (the Netherlands) and Scottsboro (USA). The company’s headquarters is located in Arnhem.

About Ticona and Celanese
Ticona, the engineering polymers business of Celanese Corporation, produces and markets a broad range of high performance products , and achieved net sales of $915 million in 2006. Ticona employs approximately 2,000 individuals at production, compounding and research facilities in the USA, Germany and Brazil. As a global leader in the chemicals industry, Celanese Corporation makes products essential to everyday living. Our products, found in consumer and industrial applications, are manufactured in North America, Europe and Asia. Net sales totaled $6.7 billion in 2006, with over 60% generated outside of North America. Known for operational excellence and execution of its business strategies, Celanese delivers value to customers around the globe with innovations and best-in-class technologies. Based in Dallas, Texas, the company employs approximately 8,900 employees worldwide.