Jul 18 2006
In early July of 2006, BASF started to market a new, highly transparent type of its Styrolux® plastic, specially developed for sophisticated applications. Styrolux 3G46 belongs to the family of styrene-butadiene block copolymers (SBS) and combines toughness and transparency so effectively that it is particularly well-suited for extruded blister packaging or visually striking presentation displays. Products such as cups and bowls, which are made by thermoforming, as well as injection-molded parts can now be manufactured with the new Styrolux with even greater transparency than has been possible so far. By expanding its SBS product line, BASF is underscoring its long-term commitment to this sector of its styrene plastic activities.
Styrolux 3G46 shows its mettle in blends with standard polystyrene (GPPS): it remains highly transparent, even with GPPS contents of up to 40 percent, a huge improvement over the products that have been available up to now. The new SBS type imparts such cost-effective mixtures with good tensile strength while still attaining excellent stiffness.
“In comparison to the likewise highly transparent multilayered films made of polyester, the new Styrolux is also 30 percent less dense, it does not have to be dried and it is easier to process, all of which translates into yet another cost advantage for our customers,” explains Florian Greger, responsible for marketing Styrolux at BASF in Ludwigshafen, Germany. For the time being, the product will only be available in Europe.