March 13, 2008

Michael H. Hoffmann
Phone +49 69 218-3583
Fax +49 69 218-3849
michael.hoffmann@evonik.com
Evonik Degussa GmbH
Weissfrauenstrasse 9
60287 Frankfurt am Main
Phone 	+49 69 218-01
Fax 	+49 69 218-3118
www.evonik.com

Chairman of the Supervisory Board
Dr. Werner Müller
Management Board
Dr. Klaus Engel (Chairman), 
Dr. Alfred Oberholz (dep.chm.),
Ralf Blauth, Dr. Manfred Spindler,
Heinz-Joachim Wagner, 
Patrik Wohlhauser

Registered office: Essen
Local Court: Essen
Commercial Register B 20227

AEROSIL: High Transparency, Low Cost

New AEROSIL® Product Line to be Introduced Worldwide 
Detailed Technical Presentations around the World

AEROSIL® fumed silicas from Evonik serve as reinforcing fillers in silicone rubber applications improving mechanical properties such as tensile strength, tear resistance and, almost incidentally, ensures that the rubber has good transparency. To further expand the range of specialty applications, the leading specialty chemicals group now presents a new generation of silicas—AEROSIL® 200 SP and AEROSIL® 300 SP. These have the advantage of creating even greater transparency in the end products. The many applications of the new SP grades include use in silicone articles for medical technology, the electrical industry, sports accessories and the food sector (for example in silicone rubber nipples).

The new SP grades can be used in a variety of applications. These include liquid silicone rubber (LSR) for injection molded articles and high-temperature vulcanizing (HTV) silicone rubber used for compression molded parts. In addition to enhancing transparency in the end product, AEROSIL® 200 SP and AEROSIL® 300 SP also produce excellent mechanical properties. Both the silicas can be rapidly hydrophobized “in situ” and are easily processed at lower temperatures than have been used in the past. The advantages for Evonik customers are shorter production times and lower energy costs. Other product properties that are important in silicone rubber applications can also be improved by the use of AEROSIL® 200 SP and AEROSIL® 300 SP. One Such improvement involves storage stability (crepe hardening effect). This is a major advantage, particularly for processors of silicone compounds, who must be able to process the compounds without any problems even after long transport and storage times.

The new AEROSIL® 200 SP and AEROSIL® 300 SP are available in ten kilogram paper bags with standardized barcodes on each bag and are supplied on 180 kg CP3 pallets. 

Company information
Evonik Industries is the creative industrial group from Germany which operates in three business areas: Chemicals, Energy and Real Estate. Evonik is a global leader in specialty chemicals, an expert in power generation from hard coal and renewable energies, and one of the largest private residential real estate companies in Germany. Our strengths are creativity, specialization, continuous self-renewal, and reliability. Evonik is active in over 100 countries around the world. In its fiscal year 2006 more than 43,000 employees generated sales of about Euro14.8 billion and an operating profit (EBIT) of over Euro 1.2 billion. 

Disclaimer
In so far as forecasts or expectations are expressed in this press release or where our statements concern the future, these forecasts, expectations or statements may involve known or unknown risks and uncertainties. Actual results or developments may vary, depending on changes in the operating environment. Neither Evonik Industries AG nor its group companies assume an obligation to update the forecasts, expectations or statements contained in this release.