MARKETVISION

f o r c o m p o s i t e s o l u t i o n s

Specialtiesfor Growth

SPRING 2010

FGS trustsCorrosion-Resistant Advantex® E-CR Glass

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Composite Bogie PerformingWell in Test

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Eco-TitanComposite Poles

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E D I T O R I A L

One of our responsibilities is expanding opportunities for our customers. This is not new, of course; Owens Corning has continually used its knowledge of materials to develop new applications and markets.

Evidence of that heritage and ongoing focus can be seen today in our industry-leading portfolio of specialty reinforcements, such as Advantex® boron-free E-CR glass, Cem FIL® alkali-resistant fi bers, and Twintex® co-mingled glass and thermoplastic reinforcements. These products and others have extraordinary properties and performance characteristics that enable them to unlock new possibilities, such as making products for extremely corrosive environments, products that are lighter and stronger, and products that save energy, reduce costs and improve productivity.

Our stand at JEC this year will exhibit several innovative specialty reinforcements that are spawning large applications. They have already grown beyond ideas and concepts; they are being used successfully and gaining traction around the world. We hope to see you at the show to discuss these products and other opportunities to expand the use of composites and keep your operations busy for years to come.

The following pages also illustrate how some of our customers are harnessing the power of specialties:

• NOV Fiber Glass Systems is using Advantex® E-CR glass reinforcements in oil and chemical pipe for corrosive environments

• General Dynamics and 3TEX are using high-performance ShieldStrand® reinforcements for lighter-weight body armor

• CMT Worldwide is combining Cem-FIL® AR glass fi bers with high-performance concrete to make poles with superior tensile and compressive strength

We continue to pursue and identify more ideas for our development pipeline. Let us know what you think we should work on next as we continue our commitment to expand the opportunities for your business.

Sincerely,

Group PresidentComposite Solutions Business

LEVERAGING INNOVATIONTO DEVELOP

NEW APPLICATIONSAND MARKETS

The Power of Specialties

The OCV™ businesses will showcase their industry-leading range of specialty reinforcements at the world’s largest trade shows for composites. The display will demonstrate the company’s commitment to innovations that enable composites to grow and penetrate a broader range of markets.

said Arnaud Genis, vice president and managing director, Europe, OCV™ Reinforcements, Global OCV™ Technical Fabrics and Specialties. “We will be happy to show and discuss the solutions we have developed to help grow the market for composites.”

A fabric that improves productivity and avoids delamination is one example that will receive a JEC Innovation Award. Invented by Dr. Nathan Han, owner of Advanced Fiber Material Technologies Co., Ltd. China, Han 3d fabric is a Velcro®-structured* glass fi ber fabric that avoids having users put reinforcement into molds one layer at a time. The fabric improves productivity and shortens mold cycle time. OCV Reinforcements (China) was a partner in the development.

Other applications applying for a JEC Innovation Award and made with reinforcements from the OCV™ businesses were:

• Eco-Titan™ composites power pole developed by CMT Worldwide and Langdale Industries to combine the strength of concrete with lightweight construction

• Wind turbine blade made with reinforced thermoplastics by Eire Composites, Ireland

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T H E P O W E R O F S P E C I A L T I E S

03 OCV™ BusinessesFeature Industry-Leading Range of SpecialtyGlass Fiber Reinforcements at JEC Composites

Specialty reinforcements on display in the company’s booth R 20 at JEC Composites 2010 (Paris, April 13-15) include:• Cem-FIL® alkali-resistant (AR) reinforcements that are inspiring

new applications in glass fi ber-reinforced concrete

• Advantex® boron-free E-CR glass fi ber reinforcements that enhance stiffness, durability and corrosion resistance in a wide range of applications

• S-glass high-strength reinforcements (ShieldStrand®, X-Strand®, WindStrand® and FliteStrand® roving and fabrics) providing stronger, stiffer and lighter composite solutions for demanding applications

• Twintex® reinforcements that combine glass fi bers and thermoplastics for lightweight, high stiffness, abrasion- and impact-resistant laminates

Most of these products will get attention at the show as they were used in new applications that were entered in the annual JEC Innovation Awards competition,

* Velcro is a registered trademarke of Velcro Industries.

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I N D U S T R I A L

When selecting fi berglass reinforcements for its corrosive applications, NOV Fiber Glass Systems President Hossein Arian says he trusts two things – his company’s experience and its test data.

One result: “We use only premium-quality chemical-resistant Advantex®

E-CR (boron-free) glass fi bers from OCV™ Reinforcements,” says Arian.

“Other manufacturers of epoxy fi berglass pipe and fi ttings will use electrical-grade fi berglass (E-glass)reinforcement material,” he continues. “In reviewing Owens Corning data comparing the performance of Advantex® E-CR glass with typical electrical-grade glass, it is apparent that Advantex® glass performs better than E glass in most hostile chemical environments.

We have also tested laminate samples made with Advantex® glass in a variety of acids and solvents and found thatthe Advantex® glass samples performed very well, he adds.“We also have an excellent history with Advantex® glass,” continues Arian. We have used it successfully in many critical situations. It appears to be a superior product.

“When we analyze the chemical resistance requirements of our customers’ applications, we often fi nd that a corrosion-resistant liner is not necessary for pipe made with the Advantex® product. In such cases we strongly encourage potential customers to consider using our unlined product. In fact, we warranty the unlined product exactly the same as the lined products we offer,” he says. “The use of Advantex E-CR glass helps us to differentiate our products. We expect to outperform the economic recovery by continuing to promote our experience, technology and use of quality materials.”

For more about NOV Fiber Glass Systems visit www.fgspipe.com

Advantex® Glass is Boron-FreeKeep these points in mind whencomparing glass fi ber materials:

• Advantex® glass fi ber reinforcements®

are made without boron, enablingthem to qualify as corrosion-resistant E-CR glass reinforcements

• Owens Corning introducedAdvantex® glass in 1996 and now has more than 14 years of experience helping customers tailor their processes and applications to obtain maximum benefi t from the material

• Owens Corning pioneered the oxygen-fi ring Advanced GlassMelting technology used to produce Advantex® glass fi ber reinforcements; the patented boron- and fl uorine-free processis more energy effi cient, resultingin less demand for fossil fuel and emissions reductions of up to*:

4400444 carbon dioxide

7577 nitr nit ogen oxide

4044 ulfur susu fur oxide

990 paartrticuic lates

Contacts:Advantex.americas@owenscorning.com

Advantex.europe@owenscorning.comAdvantex.asiap@owenscorning.com

For more about Advantex® glass, visitwww.owenscorning.com/composites/urlmaker/Advantex.asp

04 FGS Trusts CorrosionResistant Advantex® E-CR Glass

* The above comparison is typical for OCV plant conversions. Actual resultsvary from plant to plant.

D E F E N S E

05 ShieldStrand® S Reinforcementsused in Body Armor InsertsGeneral Dynamics Armament and Technical Products (GDATP) has joined forces with 3TEX, Inc. to provide state-of-the-art composite body armor solutions for personal protection using ShieldStrand® S high-performance glass fi ber reinforcements from Owens Corning.

Body armor inserts are hard plates traditionally made with a metal or ceramic face and backed with composite material to absorb the energy of the impact on the hard face. Using ShieldStrand® S, in combination with high-tech 3D weaving, improves ballistic performance while keeping the armor affordable.

GDATP and 3TEX are developing solutions to meet National Institute of Justice (NIJ) 0101.06 Level IV standalone/in-combination, as well as a low cost solution for NIJ 0101.04 Level IV.

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For more about 3TEX and GDATP visitwww.3tex.com and www.gdatp.com.For more about ShieldStrand® S reinforcements visithttp://www.ocvreinforcements.com/page/hp.asp

Signifi cantly enhanced fi ber propertiesShieldStrand® S reinforcement provides signifi cantly enhanced fi ber properties compared to E-glass for better fi nished part performance. The product’s high strength, stiffness and temperature resistance increase ballistic protection while lowering weight, helping to meet higher NIJ threat levels and stretching budgets. Cutting-edge technology at Owens Corning enables large-scale, direct-melt production of the high-performance reinforcements to meet growing demand.

“The incorporation of three-dimensionally woven fabrics and a proprietary construction process provide armor plates with increased multi-hit and edge shooting capability, reduced edge damage from fi eld conditions and excellent resistance to environmental and chemical exposure. These lightweight inserts are designed to defeat multiple strikes from a variety of threats,” Diehl continued.

* 3WEAVE is a registered trademark of 3TEX, Inc.

To create the new inserts, ShieldStrand® S fi ber is woven into a three-dimensional 3WEAVE®* preform by 3TEX, Inc. The fabric is then encapsulated with a hard face

using a vacuum-assisted resin transfer molding (VARTM) process by GDATP.

Our body armor inserts are being engineered to exceedthe latest standards from the NIJ, said Matthew Diehl,

Engineering Manager for advanced programs at GDATP.

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T R A N S P O R T A T I O N

06 Composite Bogie Performing Well in Test

When it comes to train parts, few weigh as much as the devices that keep the wheels on the track. So when railway equipment designers want to reduce the weight of rolling stock to save energy, bogies(as they are known in Europe) or trucks (U.S.) are an obvious starting point.

While early attempts to make a composite bogie were unsuccessful, a newer Eurobogie design utilizes the full potential of glass fi ber composites to mold the complete bogie frame direct to fi nal dimensions without any joints. As the bogie frame will bend under load, it has been possible to integrate the suspension and part of the damping function as well as self-steering ability around a curve. There are upper and lower bogie frames, giving the bogie dual-rate suspension.

This design, using new materials and molding technology, is passing its tests with fl ying colors. The concept is being evaluated at 1/5th scale by testing two bogies which have been in service for fi ve years under a passenger wagon in England. The bogies were recently examined and their condition found to be as good as when they were fi rst installed.

A Eureka* partnership has designed and manufactured the Eurobogie frame, which is 2.3 by 2.5 meters (7-1/2 x 8 feet) in size. The design capitalizes on the glass-reinforced polymer properties of high strength, low density, resistance to fatigue, high damage tolerance and internal damping.

OCV™ Reinforcements is supporting the project with material and technology.

A full size composite bogie will weigh about 3-1/2 metric tons – a savings of 1-1/2 metric tons compared to a typical all-steel bogie at fi ve metric tons. With two bogies per rail car, a three-ton or 30 percent savings in bogie weight per car will add up to signifi cant weight reduction for an entire train, allowing more payload in freight cars or using less energy for acceleration with passenger wagons.

For more information about the Eurobogie, visitwww.eurekanetwork.org.

For more about the reinforcements, contact SingleEndRovings.ocvmea@owenscorning.com

* EUREKA unites 38 member countries in Europe and beyond to promote and

support market-oriented research and innovation.

P O W E R - E N E R G Y

07 Eco-Titan™ CompositePole Turns Conventional Thinking on Its Side

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A breakthrough power distribution pole is turning heads in the composites and power pole industries.

Developed by CMT Worldwide and Langdale Industries, the Eco-Titan™* pole is made with high-performance lightweight concrete reinforced

with Cem-FIL™ alkali-resistant

glass fi bers from Owens Corning. The result combines the strength of concrete

with lightweight construction.

Among the head-turning aspects of the Eco-Titan™pole is a vertical winding process that maximizes the performance of the raw materials. While a typical glass fi ber-reinforced concrete application uses chopped fi ber and achieves a maximum of 5 percent glass loading by weight, the vertical winding process uses fabric and achieves a multiple of that percentage, providing superior tensile strength and enhanced compressive capabilities.

The product was nominated for the JEC Innovation Awards program for 2010 and will be on display at the show in Paris.

says Allen Sells, president of CMT Worldwide. “Our combination of materials and process technology results in an incredibly strong high-performance pole with excellent weight-to-strength qualities.”

CMT Worldwide invested 10 years developing the product. The OCV™ businesses supported the project with technology for the reinforcements and fabrics. Langdale Industries has been a leading provider of wooden utility poles for more than half a century. The company sees the need for an engineered product that compliments the wood distribution pole.

* Eco-Titan is a trademark of CMT Worldwide

Eco-Titan™ technology is now being licensed globally. The fi rst to sign up outside the U.S. was Dulhunty Power Ltd., near Melbourne, Australia. Poles from the Dulhunty plant in the state of Victoria are expected to provide a needed option for utilities facing bushfi re events each summer. Fires in Victoria in February 2009 exposed power lines to destructive conditions and loss of power due to burned poles. In February 2010, CMT Worldwide initiated fi re testing in accordance with Australian Standard (AS) 1530.8.1, which replicates bushfi re events.

For more about the Eco-Titan™ pole, visitwww.titanpoles.net. For more about Cem-FIL® alkali-resistant glass fi bers, visit

http://www.ocvreinforcements.com/page/CemFil.asp

Eco-Titan™ is the fi rst truly new product for the distribution pole market in 15 years,

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The OCV™ Reinforcements Web site forCem-FIL® alkali-resistant (AR) glass fi bers has been updated to display information that is helpful to architects, engineers and other construction professionals.

While still including product information, the section now focuses on technical information and support for end-use applications and industry processes.

Cem-FIL® AR glass fi bers have helped create some of the world’s most stunning architecture. The fi bers provide strong and durable performance in a wide variety of cement- and mortar-based applications including fl ooring, renders, top screeds, tunnels and utility poles.

MARKET VISION FOR COMPOSITE SOLUTIONSPublished four times each year by Owens Corning Composite Materials, LLC.E-mail feedback and suggestions to MarketVision@owenscorning.com.

Executive Editor: Scott Flowersscott.flowers@owenscorning.com

Managing Editor: Emmanuelle Mangenotemmanuelle.mangenot@owenscorning.com

OWENS CORNING COMPOSITE MATERIALS, LLCONE OWENS CORNING PARKWAYTOLEDO, OHIO, USA 43659

1-800-GET-PINKTM

www.owenscorning.com

Pub. No. 10012410. Printed in U.S.A. March 2010. Printed on recycled paper. THE PINK PANTHER™ and ©1964–2010Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. All Rights Reserved.The color PINK is a registered trademark of Owens Corning.©2010 Owens Corning.

08 RESOURCE CENTERNew Cem-FIL® Solution Information Available

To see the new site, visithttp://www.ocvreinforcements.com/page/CemFil.asp

Did you know?• Cem-FIL® fi bers have a higher tensile strength

than steel

• Cem-FIL® fi bers enhance the impact resistance of concrete

• Cem-FIL® fi bers can reduce the weight and thickness of concrete by a factor of 10

• Cem-FIL® fi bers are compatible with all cements, mortars and admixtures

• Cem-FIL® fi bers are an approved alternative to wire mesh when used for crack control

• Cem-FIL® fi bers reduce and control random cracking in thin sections of concrete

• Cem-FIL® fi bers can be used to reinforce paint

• Cem-FIL® fi bers have been used successfully for 40 years in more than 100 countries