PPG Forms Partnership With SiNode Systems for Vehicle Battery Technology

Project focuses on commercializing high-energy anode materials

PITTSBURGH–(BUSINESS WIRE)–PPG (NYSE:PPG) today announced it has entered into a partnership with
SiNode Systems to accelerate the commercialization of high-energy anode
materials for advanced battery applications in electric vehicles. The
30-month project will enable the partners to rapidly develop and
demonstrate anode materials that will store more energy than
conventional lithium-ion battery materials, enabling electric vehicles
to travel farther on a single charge or to have a lighter-weight battery.

In 2016, SiNode was selected among several competitors to receive a
contract for the project from the United
States Advanced Battery Consortium LLC (USABC), which is providing
50 percent of the project’s funding through the U.S. Department of
Energy. Project partners are funding the remaining 50 percent.

The project will focus on improving the stability and scalability of
SiNode’s anode materials to meet or exceed USABC targets for a battery’s
active materials, which store the energy. Raymor Industries will provide
graphene – a nanoscale-thin layer of pure carbon that is required for
the high-energy anode materials – to PPG, which will then prepare the
material for SiNode. PPG will help both Raymor and SiNode scale up their
manufacturing processes to production volumes to support the project.

“Partnering with PPG will allow us to accelerate the commercialization
of our battery materials platform for a wide range of markets, from
consumer electronics to electric vehicles,” said Samir Mayekar, SiNode
co-founder and CEO. “Our team is thrilled to collaborate with PPG.”

Kurt Olson, PPG research fellow, said, “We believe SiNode’s technology
has great potential to benefit the battery market, and we appreciate
this opportunity for collaboration. Boosting the range and reducing the
weight of electric vehicles through batteries that store more energy
will increase the practicality of, and consumer interest in, these cars.
Applying PPG technology to help improve the sustainability of products,
such as electric vehicles, is a strategic goal for us, and we are
pleased to participate in this project.”

PPG’s current goal is to have 40 percent of its total sales derived from
sustainable products by 2020. The company met its initial 30 percent
goal five years ahead of schedule in 2015.

About SiNode Systems

Founded in 2012, SiNode Systems is an advanced materials company
developing silicon-graphene materials for the next generation of
lithium-ion batteries. SiNode materials offer higher battery capacity
and faster charging rates, all while being produced via a low-cost,
solution-chemistry-based manufacturing process. SiNode seeks to change
the landscape for lithium-ion batteries so they can meet the demands of
a wide range of industries, from consumer electronics to electric
vehicles. For more information, visit www.sinodesystems.com.

About USABC

USABC is a subsidiary of the United States Council for Automotive
Research LLC (USCAR). Enabled by a cooperative agreement with the U.S.
Department of Energy (DOE), USABC’s mission is to develop
electrochemical energy storage technologies that support
commercialization of hybrid, plug-in hybrid, electric and fuel cell
vehicles. Now in its 25th year, USCAR is the collaborative automotive
technology company for FCA US LLC, Ford Motor Company and General
Motors. The goal of USCAR is to further strengthen the technology base
of the domestic auto industry through cooperative research and
development. For more information, visit www.uscar.org.

About Raymor Industries

Headquartered in Boisbriand, Quebec, Canada, Raymor Industries Inc.
provides carbon-based materials that make the difference for electrical
conductivity applications and the next generation of carbon-based
electronics. Its NanoIntegris and Raymor Nanotech subsidiaries are known
for the high purity of their carbon nanotubes. Raymor can now provide
low-cost, high-performance and PAH-free graphene for electronic
applications. For more information, visit www.raymor.com.

PPG: WE PROTECT AND BEAUTIFY THE WORLD™

At PPG (NYSE:PPG), we work every day to develop and deliver the paints,
coatings and materials that our customers have trusted for more than 130
years. Through dedication and creativity, we solve our customers’
biggest challenges, collaborating closely to find the right path
forward. With headquarters in Pittsburgh, we operate and innovate in
more than 70 countries and reported net sales of $14.3 billion in 2016.
We serve customers in construction, consumer products, industrial and
transportation markets and aftermarkets. To learn more, visit www.ppg.com.

We protect and beautify the world is a trademark and the PPG
Logo is a registered trademark of PPG Industries Ohio, Inc.

Contacts

PPG Media Contact:
Mark Silvey, Corporate Communications,
+1-412-434-3046
[email protected]
www.ppg.com