New Kraton polymer to enhance manufacturing efficiency

Houston, Texas – Kraton Corp. is launching a new hydrogenated styrenic block copolymer (HSBC) polymer which it says enables improved flow for higher manufacturing efficiency.
 
Kraton G1646 offers “all the benefits” of enhanced rubber polymers in addition to greater efficiency for higher production, said Bob Hall, senior director, global Marketing at Kraton. 

“Customers select this polymer for its ability to improve process and user performance compared to alternative elastomeric materials,” he said in a 4 June company statement.
 
The new polymer is part of Kraton’s Enhanced Rubber Segment (ERS) series portfolio, which is softer and shows higher melt flow properties compared to conventional Kraton G polymers. 

The product, according to Kraton, has “excellent compatibility” with polypropylene, and is produced as a dense pellet at Kraton’s HSBC manufacturing site in Mailiao, Taiwan.
 
It can be used in a variety of applications including protective film, food packaging, medical tubing and films, and face masks. 

Face masks employing the polymer are claimed to be more stable at body temperature over a long-use period compared to masks using polyolefin elastomers.

The material is also claimed to be softer than polyolefin elastomers, making the mask straps more comfortable on the skin or around ears.