Kraton Performance Polymers’ New Innovations to be Displayed at K 2010

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Oct 19 2010

Kraton Performance Polymers, Inc. (NYSE: KRA), a leading global producer of styrenic block copolymers or "SBCs," announces plans to exhibit at The 18th International Trade Fair for Plastics and Rubber Worldwide (K 2010), from October 27-November 3, 2010 in Dusseldorf, Germany.

The company plans to showcase six of its latest innovations including alternatives for PVC, TPU, and natural rubber in automotive slush molded interior soft skins, medical and personal care, wire and cable, and protective films; and NEXAR™ polymers for water transport, filtration and separation, and performance fabrics applications.

"K 2010 provides Kraton with the perfect venue for our scientists and market development managers to meet and exchange ideas with innovators from across the globe," said Lothar Freund, Vice President, Technology at Kraton Polymers. "These meetings often lead to collaborative efforts, which result in innovative and specialized product solutions designed to meet even the most rigorous industry demands for higher-performance, lower-cost and environmentally-friendly solutions. Kraton developed SBCs almost fifty years ago and continues to lead the market driving innovation and developing new families of these highly-engineered synthetic elastomers," he concluded.

Kraton scientists and executives will be at the company's showcase in Booth C80, Hall 6 to discuss the company's latest innovations in the following applications:

Automotive Slush Molded Interior Soft Skins (PVC & TPU alternative): This innovative development, resulting from a strategic alliance with SO.F.TER provides a major technology and performance leap for the automotive industry. Our new innovation can be used to replace PVC, which has been the predominant material for interior soft skins using the slush molding process. PVC has many limitations including a high level of plasticizer (which tends to migrate) and flexible PVC becomes brittle and loses functionality over time. Our SBC product allows manufacturers to achieve significant improvements in low temperature performance, fogging, and recyclability while still using existing slush molding equipment and standard processing conditions. The additional benefits realized also include lower manufacturing costs due to reduced service temperatures and decreased processing time;
Medical (PVC alternative): Kraton G1645®, a polymer product, creates new opportunities to replace PVC in medical and other applications including IV bag film and medical tubing. Our polymers are phthalate-free and provide high-performance, non-allergenic, and proven alternatives to PVC;
Cariflex™ IR (high end natural rubber alternative): Kraton's breakthrough Cariflex IR is a synthetic polyisoprene rubber that can be formulated to replace many solid natural rubber (NR) applications. Kraton Cariflex IR Latex is an ideal substitute for NR latex, particularly in medical applications with high purity requirements. These products offer outstanding elasticity, skin comfort and mechanical properties;
Personal Care (Elastic Nonwovens): Kraton's innovative and award-winning bicomponent fiber technology has been proven ideal for high-speed processing in nonwoven manufacturing for performance fabrics. Our polymers offer increased comfort, flexibility and durability, as well as multi-directional elasticity and strength in soft, quiet, and breathable materials. These attributes can be delivered in light and heavy basis weights often required in personal care, medical and protective apparel, waistbands and cuffs, and wound dressings. Kraton Polymers was the recipient of the 2009 Frost & Sullivan North American Elastic Nonwovens Technology Leadership of the Year Award. This technology was also recognized by peers in the field with the 2008 INTC Best Paper Award;
Wire & Cable (PVC alternative): Kraton polymers offer a variety of key attributes important in wire and cable applications. Superior electrical properties make them excellent candidates for insulation applications, and they are versatile enough to be used for jacketing and molded parts. Kraton ERS polymers provide low hardness and high flow for injection molded connectors and plugs. Kraton A polymers can achieve the best balance in strength, processability, and compatibility with various ingredients. Our polymers stand up to heat—they can be flame retarded to a V-0 rating and exhibit resistance to thermal aging. Kraton FG polymers can enhance compatibility between flame-retardant fillers and the polymer matrix. Our polymers are lightweight due to their low specific gravity, are halogen-free, recyclable and can be easily colored. Their excellent low temperature flexibility and UV and ozone-resistance make them suitable for outdoor applications as well;
Protective Films: Kraton co-ex technology offers the latest technological advancements in adhesive polymers for surface protection films. This technology offers unique features that can be formulated into adhesive compounds covering a broad range of processing and performance properties. Compound properties can be tailored to achieve unique performance requirements specific to end user applications. Our technology prevents moisture permeation, preserves the integrity of finished surfaces and protects against marring and scratching. It also allows for customizable peel strength that sustains tack on curved and textured surfaces while resisting dimples and rigid wrinkles;
NEXAR™ Polymers: Kraton's development using sulfonated block co-polymers, features unique nonporous membrane technology allowing for substantial moisture vapor and water transport rates. NEXAR polymers are ideal for a variety of applications including performance fabrics, capacitive deionization, humidity control, and energy recovery ventilation. NEXAR selectively permeable membranes for high performance breathable fabrics help the human body maintain its energy balance by quickly transporting large amounts of moisture outside and away from the skin. This helps maintain a comfortable microclimate for the body and allows optimum moisture management performance over time. NEXAR polymers offer selective permeability, which allows a tremendous amount of water to pass through while blocking potentially harmful chemicals. They can also be formed into nonporous membranes and can be processed using existing equipment.