Ascend Performance Materials has successfully challenged a lithium-ion battery 
technology patent held by Samsung SDI. In a final written decision, the U.S. 
Patent Trial and Appeal Board held that all of the challenged claims were 
invalid for multiple reasons.

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The board's decision broadly enables manufacturers to use Trinohex Ultra(TM) in 
the United States for their lithium-ion battery electrolyte formulations.

To date, Ascend's global efforts to invalidate Samsung SDI's patent family have 
been successful, with favorable decisions in China and the U.S., with actions 
pending in other jurisdictions.

"We are pleased that the board saw the merits of our case against an overly 
broad and restrictive patent," said Dan Burke, Ascend's intellectual property 
attorney. "The board agreed that the scope of the existing patent was too broad 
and that its claims were invalid in view of earlier well-known additives."

Ascend's Trinohex Ultra is a globally available, non-hazardous electrolyte 
additive that improves battery life and overall performance, especially in 
extreme conditions. Independent testing has shown Trinohex Ultra to be 
effective in reducing harmful gas generation by over 25% and protecting both 
current and next-generation lithium-ion battery cathodes from degradation.

"We have tested batteries containing Trinohex Ultra across different cathodes, 
voltages and electrolyte chemistries," said David McNeece, Ascend's business 
manager for battery chemistry. "Across the board, Trinohex Ultra outperforms 
competing additives – displaying superior performance in gas generation and 
capacity retention, which leads to longer-lasting and higher performing 
batteries in all conditions."  

Ascend is a fully integrated producer of high-performance polymers, fibers and 
specialty chemicals used in automotive, electrical and electronic, consumer and 
industrial products globally.

About Ascend Performance Materials

Ascend Performance Materials makes high-performance materials for everyday 
essentials and new technologies. Our focus is on improving quality of life and 
inspiring a better tomorrow through innovation. Based in Houston, Texas, and 
with regional offices in Shanghai, Brussels and Detroit, we are a fully 
integrated material solutions provider with nine global manufacturing 
facilities in the United States, Europe and China. Our 2,600-person global 
workforce makes the plastics, fabrics, fibers and chemicals used to make safer 
vehicles, cleaner energy, better medical devices, smarter appliances and 
longer-lasting apparel and consumer goods. We are committed to safety, 
sustainability and the success of our customers and our communities.

Learn more about Ascend at www.ascendmaterials.com.

Contact: Ally Jahn, +1 713-210-9809, ajahn@ascendmaterials.com

SOURCE Ascend Performance Materials