Putting Science to Work: DuPont™ Cerenol™ Made From 100% Renewable Resources

Yesterday DuPont announced its next polymer family made with renewable resources - DuPont™ Cerenol™, which is made from 100 percent renewable resources. This patented new product line joins DuPont™ Sorona® as the newest polymer family made with corn instead of petroleum. Cerenol™ enhances the performance of a diverse portfolio of end-use products that range from running shoes and ski boots to cosmetics, automotive components and spandex fiber applications.

DuPont™ Cerenol™ is a family of renewably sourced, high-performance polyols (polyetherdiols). Cerenol™ can replace petroleum-based ingredients or finished products without compromising functionality. It offers value-added properties and can increase process efficiencies for a broad range of products in diverse markets including personal care, functional fluids and high-performance elastomers. Unlike petroleum-based or other plant-based alternatives, DuPont™ Cerenol™ is easily tailored to meet specific needs and performs better in many end uses while providing environmental benefits.

“Since customers want environmentally smart options that do not compromise performance, we are pleased to now offer both Sorona® and Cerenol™ -- two high-performance polymers that are engineered to meet or exceed the performance of their petroleum-based counterparts,” said DuPont Bio-Based Materials Vice President & General Manager Peter Hemken.

DuPont™ Cerenol™ is named from Ceres, the Roman goddess of agriculture. The liquid polyol is made using Bio-PDO™ from the DuPont Tate & Lyle Bio Products joint venture in Loudon, Tenn. Cerenol™ is the result of polymerizing Bio-PDO™ with itself. Cerenol™ is being produced at DuPont operations in the United States and Canada.

Cerenol™ will be the building block for two other renewably sourced products from DuPont. First, for new automotive primers and clearcoats from DuPont Performance Coatings that will be available in the first quarter of 2008, Cerenol™ provides increased chip resistance and flexibility. Second, grades of DuPont™ Hytrel® thermoplastic elastomers made with Cerenol™ will be available in late 2007 and will offer performance comparable to conventional grades.