Stepan Company along with its subsidiaries, produces specialty and intermediate chemicals, which are sold to other manufacturers and then made into a variety of end products. The Company operates in three segments: surfactants, polymers and specialty products. Surfactants refer to chemical agents that affect the interaction between two surfaces. They can provide actions, such as detergency (the ability of water to remove soil from another surface), wetting and foaming, dispersing, emulsification (aiding two dissimilar liquids to mix), demulsification, viscosity modifications and biocidal disinfectants. Polymers, which include phthalic anhydride, polyols and polyurethane foam systems, are used in plastics, building materials and refrigeration industries. Polymers are also used in coating, adhesive, sealant and elastomer applications. Specialty products include chemicals used in food, flavoring and pharmaceutical applications.