Jul 29 2010
Kraton Performance Polymers, Inc. (NYSE: KRA), a leading global producer of styrenic block copolymers or "SBCs" (together with Kraton Polymers LLC and its other subsidiaries "Kraton"), announced the addition of Kraton D1183 BT, a new SIS grade, to its line of polymers for use in applications where softness, ease-in-processing, and high temperature resistance are essential.
"Kraton D1183 BT is suitable for use in many adhesive applications including thermal printing labels, high temperature resistant labels, elastic labels and diaper tabs. It is an excellent choice for adhesives in hygiene applications and its shear strength is particularly good at 37 degrees C," said Mark Siebert, Vice President of Adhesives, Sealants and Coatings. "Moreover, it offers economically attractive adhesive formulations, and gives formulators the ability to dilute it further to obtain equivalent performance levels of competing products, which can result in cost-savings. It can also achieve significantly higher cohesive strength and higher temperature resistance without the use of expensive endblock resins. Therefore, Kraton D1183 BT is not only economically attractive, but also substantially stronger and offers a wider formulating space," he said.
Prior to the commercialization of Kraton D1183 BT, innovators used low-coupled SIS block copolymers to impart softness to end-products. Although they offered improved adhesion on open and porous substrates and good label die-cutting performance, they often lacked cohesion, which hampered their use in applications where higher shear and temperature resistance was required. In comparison, Kraton D1183 BT is a 40% diblock SIS, which shows superior performance to low-coupled SIS block copolymers and is therefore the polymer of choice for these applications.