Click to view the timeline of major developments in the history of Dow Building Solutions.
1941 1946 1949 1966 1970s 1980s 2000 - 2006 2007 2008
| 1941 | |||
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Laboratory experiments yield polystyrene foam; Dow patents the technology in the United States. |
 Historic photo courtesy of Post Street Archives |
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| 1946 | |||
| STYROFOAM™ brand name first used commercially; first housing application; first low-temperature application. |  Historic photo courtesy of Post Street Archives |
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| 1949 | |||
| STYROFOAM™ Brand Insulation first applied to roofs. | |
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| 1966 | |||
| STYROFOAM™ Brand Insulation placed under highways. | |||
| Dow applies for patent of inverted roof membrane (IRMA, also known as a protected membrane roof). Patent granted in 1968. |  |
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| 1970s | |||
| Water-resistant STYROFOAM™ Brand Insulation passes rigorous testing for insulating foundations. |  |
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| 1980s | |||
| Introduction of STYROFOAM™ SILL SEAL™ foam gasket (later branded WEATHERMATE™), thin polyethylene foam specially designed to reduce air infiltration between foundation and sill plate. | |
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| 2000 - 2006 | |||
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Dow introduces WEATHERMATE™ housewraps, polyolefin-based non-insulating wraps that help reduce air and moisture infiltration. High-performance tapes, butyl-based flashings and a polymer sill pan join WEATHERMATE™ housewraps to establish WEATHERMATE™ Weather Barrier Solutions. |
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| Dow acquires rigid foam insulation assets of Celotex Corporation in the United States, polyisocyanurate insulation products with outstanding thermal resistance. |  |
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| Dow launches STYROFOAM™ Brand BLUEGUARD™ termite-resistant foundation insulation. |  |
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| Polyurethane spray foam insulation, sealants and adhesives (including top-branded GREAT STUFF™ products) are added to the Dow Building Solutions product portfolio. |  |
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| 2007 | |||
| An expanded line of WEATHERMATE™ Weather Barrier Solutions now includes the DOW™ 1000 Series of sealants and adhesives. |  |
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| Dow introduces SAFETOUCH™ Fiberglass-Free Insulation, an itch-free thermo-acoustic quilt manufactured from polyester fibers. |  |
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| STYROFOAM SIS™ Brand Structural Insulated Sheathing is successfully marketed as the first structural insulated sheathing to achieve significant R-values. |  |
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| 2008 | |||
| Dow simplifies commercial wall design and construction with the THERMAX™ Total Wall System: continuous insulation, flashing and air barrier in one integrated system. |  |
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