Phos-Chek® superabsorbent material provides firefighters with a powerful new tool to control fires like this one in Crawford County, Missouri, U.S.A.

Insider News - March 24, 2005 - Jobwerx News - BASF names Astaris LLC, maker of the Phos-Chek® brand of fire and flame-retardants and suppressants, as an exclusive global distributor for its superabsorbent polymer used in wildland firefighting and structure protection.

Based in St. Louis, Mo., Astaris LLC is jointly owned by Solutia Inc. (OTCBB: SOLUQ) and FMC Corporation (NYSE: FMC) and provides phosphate technology solutions for food, industrial and institutional applications to customers worldwide.

"Working with Astaris, the world's leading provider of chemical solutions for management of wildland and structural fires, will allow faster adoption of our highly effective firefighting superabsorbent material in North America, Europe and Australia," said Seth Erdner, Market Development Specialist for BASF's Superabsorbent business in North America. "BASF's superabsorbent polymer technology, combined with Astaris' four decades of experience in firefighting using chemical technology, provides firefighters with a powerful new tool."

Employing BASF's superabsorbent polymer, Astaris is marketing a new breakthrough firefighting gel material in the United States, approved for use by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (U.S.D.A.) Forest Service agency, under the brand name Phos-Chek AquaGel. Outside of the United States, the product will be marketed under the brand name Phos-Chek® Focstop.

Unlike traditional liquid-type gels, Phos-Chek AquaGel does not leave an oily residue on surfaces to which it has been applied. Consequently, residue cleanup after the fire is extinguished is faster, easier and less expensive.

Providing firefighters with the safest, most effective products:

Delivered to the user in powder form, Phos-Chek AquaGel requires less inventory space than liquid materials. The user simply mixes the product with water, and applies it using the same equipment now used to apply firefighting water or foam. Phos-Chek AquaGel is also environmentally friendly.

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