SEBS Block Copolymer suits food contact, medical applications.

Press Release Summary:

With respective MFR values of 27 and 77 g/10 min @ 230°C, 2.16 and 5 kg, Kraton™ G1653 styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene (SEBS) block copolymer retains tensile strength (>30 MPa) and toughness while offering solution viscosity of 480 cP. Solid level can reduce coating layers for coating applications or reduce shrinkage and need for solvent for sealant applications. Supplied in free flowing dense pellet form, 73 Shore A copolymer has 30% polystyrene content and rubber phase Tg of -48.5°C.


Original Press Release:

Announcing New Innovation Polymer - Kraton(TM) G1653 Polymer

HOUSTON -- Kraton Performance Polymers, Inc. (NYSE: KRA) is a leading global producer of styrenic block copolymer (SBC). Kraton has a history of innovation focused on driving growth for its customers. With a broad portfolio of value-enhancing polymers used in a wide variety of applications, we are pleased to introduce our newest innovation polymer that we believe will enable our customers to further expand their competitive edge.

Introducing Kraton G1653
The new developmental polymer, Kraton G1653 polymer, is a styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene (SEBS) block copolymer. With lower molecular weight than Kraton G1652 polymer, it still retains the high tensile strength and toughness of Kraton G1652 while offering significantly lower melt and solution viscosities.  Kraton G1653 is suitable for food contact and medical applications.

Features and benefits
Although Kraton G1653 retains similar physical properties as Kraton G1652, it has a much lower solution viscosity than Kraton G1652. This low solution viscosity increases solid content and decreases VOC of solvent based products, yet maintains similar processability. For coating applications, the increased solid level translates to potentially reduced coating layers and lower labor cost. For sealant applications, the increased solid content is expected to reduce shrinkage and costs associated with solvent. Kraton G1653 also can be dissolved in PCBTF at 20 percent solids, which may enable formulators to replace organic solvents with PCBTF to reduce VOCs associated with the final product.

The free flowing dense pellet form of Kraton G1653 is expected to improve storage, handling, and feeding of the polymer in comparison to SEBS polymers in powder form. The polymer has the following qualities:

• Does not block together during storage
• Can be transferred using conventional pneumatic conveying equipment
• Does not agglomerate when dissolving in solvents, and
• The dense pellet form may enable improved production rates

Potential market applications include:
Coating applications, sealants, pressure sensitive adhesives, hot melt adhesives, TPE compound, elastic compound, medical compound, color master batch, additive concentrates, oil gel, and polymer modification.

Prakash Kolluri, Vice President Sales & Marketing Asia Pacific noted, "Kraton G1653 is another new Kraton innovation polymer that was developed to meet the market trend toward lower viscosity, high flow, and lower processing temperature. We expect that Kraton G1653 will allow our customers to meet the tight VOC regulatory requirements without sacrificing performance and processability."

(NTD: covered in the "About Kraton Polymers" section below)* The product Kraton G1653 will be offered under the name Kraton MD1653 until fully commercialized.

Information for Technical Audiences

Typical properties of Kraton G1653

PropertiesKraton G1653Solution Viscosity (cP), 25% @ RT480MFR (g/10min) @ 230°C, 2.16 kg27MFR (g/10min) @ 230°C, 5 kg77Polystyrene Content (%)30Hardness (Shore A)73Tensile Strength (MPa)*> 30Ultimate Elongation (%)*> 500Product FormPellet


* Properties measured on film cast from toluene solution.

Kraton G1653 offers significantly higher melt flow and lower solution viscosity than its conventional SEBS analogue. This allows formulators to develop high flow compounds with excellent properties without adding excessive oils. Compounds based on Kraton G1653 can also be extruded or molded at lower temperatures. For hot melt adhesives, the lower melt viscosity translates to lower processing temperatures, which is expected to reduce energy consumption and improve production rates.

Kraton G1653 has the same low rubber phase Tg (-48.5°C) as the conventional G1600 series polymers. This rubber Tg allows the polymer to remain flexible and elastic at low temperatures. G1653 can also be compounded with random copolypropylene and extruded into clear films with superior toughness for medical applications. Such films can be heat sealed and sterilized. It can also be used as an impact modifier for rigid polymers or as an interfacial compatibilizer for polymer alloys or blends.

Packaging and availability information
Kraton G1653 is produced at Kraton's Belpre plant. It is available immediately in commercial quantities. Please contact your Kraton representative or distributors for samples.

About Kraton Polymers
Kraton Performance Polymers, Inc. (NYSE "KRA") is a leading global producer of styrenic block copolymers, specialty polymers and high-value performance products derived from pine wood pulping co-products. Kraton's polymers are used in a wide range of applications, including adhesives, coatings, consumer and personal care products, sealants and lubricants, and medical, packaging, automotive, paving, roofing and footwear products. As the largest global provider in the pine chemicals industry, the company's pine-based specialty products are sold into adhesive, road and construction and tire markets, and it produces and sells a broad range of chemical intermediates into markets that include fuel additives, oilfield chemicals, coatings, metalworking fluids and lubricants, inks, flavors and fragrances and mining. Kraton offers its products to a diverse customer base in over 70 countries worldwide. Kraton, the Kraton logo and design, and the "Giving Innovators their Edge" tagline are all trademarks of Kraton Performance Polymers, Inc., or its subsidiaries or affiliates.

Kraton maintains a Cosmetics, Drugs and Medical Device Policy that restricts the use of Kraton's Products in certain end use applications without Kraton's prior written consent. Accordingly, Kraton does not guarantee that Kraton's products will be available for use in all potential end use applications. Kraton's Cosmetics, Drugs and Medical Device Policy is available on Kraton's website at www.kraton.com.

Contact information:
For more information, please contact Kraton Polymers at www.kraton.com or bing.yang@kraton.com.

Media Contact: Vaneese Bell; T: +1 281 504 4792

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