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                                                                  EXHIBIT (a)(8)
For Immediate Release

EASTMAN CHEMICAL COMPANY:
CONTACT:  Nancy Ledford
PHONE:  423.229-5264


                   EASTMAN CHEMICAL COMMENCES $19.70 PER SHARE
                   TENDER OFFER FOR ALL OUTSTANDING SHARES OF
                          McWHORTER TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

KINGSPORT, Tenn. -- May 12, 2000 -- Eastman Chemical Company (NYSE:EMN)
announced today that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Tartan, Inc., has commenced a
cash tender offer for all the outstanding shares of McWhorter Technologies, Inc.
(NYSE:MWT) common stock at a price of $19.70 per McWhorter share. The tender
offer is scheduled to expire at 12:00 midnight, New York City time, on Friday,
June 9, 2000, unless extended.

Following the completion of the tender offer, Eastman intends to consummate a
second step merger in which all remaining McWhorter stockholders will also
receive the same cash price paid in the tender offer.

As previously announced, on May 3, 2000, Eastman, Tartan and McWhorter signed a
definitive merger agreement for the acquisition of McWhorter for $19.70 per
share in cash. McWhorter's board of directors has unanimously approved the
tender offer and the merger and determined that the tender offer and the merger
are in the best interests of McWhorter's stockholders. The McWhorter board
unanimously recommended that McWhorter stockholders accept the Eastman offer and
tender their shares. McWhorter will mail its formal recommendation to
stockholders at the same time Eastman mails its tender offer materials.

The tender offer is conditioned upon, among other things, (1) there being
validly tendered and not withdrawn before the expiration date, a number of
shares, which when added to the number of shares beneficially owned by Eastman
and Tartan, will represent a majority of the total number of outstanding shares
of McWhorter on a fully diluted basis at the time the shares are accepted for
payment pursuant to the offer; and (2) expiration or termination of any
applicable waiting period under the

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Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 and any applicable foreign
antitrust, investment, or competition laws or regulations. The complete terms
and conditions of the tender offer are set forth in the offering documents
being filed today with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Chase Securities Inc. is acting as Dealer Manager for Eastman's offer and
Georgeson Shareholder Communications Inc. is acting as Information Agent. Copies
of Eastman's tender offer materials can be obtained from the Information Agent
by calling 800-223-2064.

Headquartered in Kingsport, Tenn., Eastman manufactures and markets plastics,
chemicals and fibers. The company employs 15,000 people in more than 30
countries and had 1999 sales of US$4.6 billion.


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