Kraton Corporation launches Kraton™ G1646, a hydrogenated styrenic block copolymer (HSBC) that enables improved flow for higher manufacturing efficiency. Kraton™ G1646 polymer can be used in a variety of applications including protective film, food packaging, medical tubing and films, and face masks.
Face masks employing Kraton™ G1646 polymer are more stable at body temperature over a long-use period compared to masks employing polyolefin elastomers, enabling a more secure fit over time.
Re-processable HSBC Addresses Masks Shortage
With Kraton™ G1646 polymer, the elastic material is softer than polyolefin elastomers, leading to enhanced comfort. Its soft retention forces have shown to leave no red marks on the skin or around the ears, even after eight hours of wear in current product designs. The 100-percent re-processable polymer enables the manufacturer to meet production goals in a collective effort to address the global face mask shortage during the COVID-19 global pandemic, while offering high quality and comfortable personal protection equipment (PPE).
Kraton™ G1646 is part of Kraton’s Enhanced Rubber Segment (ERS) series portfolio. The copolymer is soft and shows higher melt flow properties than conventional Kraton G polymers. The product has excellent compatibility with polypropylene, and is produced as a dense pellet in Kraton’s state-of-the-art HSBC manufacturing site in Mailiao, Taiwan.
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Our latest product offers all the benefits of enhanced rubber segment 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,” added Hall.
Kraton Corporation is a leading global sustainable producer of specialty polymers and high-value biobased products derived from pine wood pulping co-products.
Source: Kraton Corporation