Consumables

Kraton Announces Plans to Showcase Latest Advancements in Elastic Nonwovens, NEXAR(TM) Polymers for Performance Fabrics, and C5 Resin Alternatives for Adhesives at INDEX 11 GENEVA PALEXPO, April 12-15, 2011, Geneva, Switzerland

Thursday 24. March 2011 - Kraton Performance Polymers, Inc. (NYSE: KRA), a leading global producer of styrenic block copolymers or "SBCs," announces plans to showcase and discuss its latest innovations in elastic nonwovens, NEXAR(TM) Polymers, and C5 Resin alternatives for adhesives at INDEX 11 in the GENEVA PALEXPO Exhibition and Conference Centre, Geneva, Switzerland.

INDEX 11, which is considered to be one of the world’s leading nonwovens exhibition, is the ideal venue for Kraton Polymers to showcase its latest innovations in adhesives, elastic nonwovens, and NEXAR polymers for performance fabrics. “We believe that INDEX 11 will provide tremendous opportunities for knowledge sharing and collaboration, which has historically resulted in new, innovative, and specialized product solutions that meet the most rigorous industry demands for higher-performance,” said Mark Siebert, Vice President, Adhesives, Sealants and Coatings. “We expect that key players–from all application sectors around the world–will be in attendance, and we look forward to helping them find solutions to their innovative challenges and product shortages,” he concluded.
Kraton scientists and executives will be at the company’s showcase in booth 4215 to discuss the features, benefits and applications of Kraton’s latest innovations in the following end uses:
Elastic Nonwovens for Single-Use Disposables and Durable Fabrics: Kraton Polymers’ new polymer technology offers superior softness, bi-axial stretch and solid durability breaking through the process barriers of conventional styrenic block copolymers. The competitive advantage lies in the design and optimization of the copolymer while still being suitable for high speed processing. These elastic nonwovens are proven to be drapeable and non-tacky enabling the creation of products that are soft, quiet, and discreet. Kraton polymers impart the stretch and flexibility required in personal care products and offer improved comfort in items such as scrub suit apparel, medical gown laminates and wound care dressings. These polymers paired with polyester and nylon making interesting fabrics for uniforms, outdoor apparel and furnishings.
NEXAR(TM) Polymers (Performance Fabrics): NEXAR polymers’ selectively permeable membranes and coatings provide a unique solution that addresses the needs of textile innovators for high performance and breathable fabrics. They can be used in sports apparel, outdoor apparel and gear, military and industrial uniforms, as well as medical and geotextile applications. NEXAR polymers are lightweight and flexible, offer selective permeability in a nonporous membrane, deliver an excellent moisture transmission rate, do not require special equipment or processes, provide high strength in wet and dry environments and are chemical and chlorine resistant.
Adhesives: Kraton Polymers has technologies that can be used in hot melt formulations to support the needs of market growth while reducing the demand on C5 resins. These adhesives can be used in tapes and labels and are considered to be the cornerstone technology for diaper and feminine napkin construction. Styrenic block copolymers in conjunction with C5 and aromatic-modified tackifying resins have been the preferred choice given their wide formulation latitude and application ease. Kraton Polymers has developed an alternative solution that requires 15% less C5 while delivering similar adhesion properties and formulated costs to current industry standard formulations. Our unique SIBS based polymer provides an immediate option to support the growth and innovation needs of innovators without sacrificing performance. In addition, our latest developments can be extended to SBS polymer grades typically used for nonwoven construction. Kraton Polymers’ research and development efforts continue to explore new chemistry options to reduce the dependency on scarce formulating ingredients.
In addition to the product showcase highlighted above, attendees are invited to attend the presentation of two technical papers by Kraton Polymers research scientists Martine Dupont and John Flood, respectively. The first presentation, entitled Kraton Polymer Technologies Reduce or Eliminate C5 Tackifying Resins, will be held on Tuesday, April 12, 2011, from 4:00 p.m.- 4:20 p.m. The second presentation, co-authored by The Nonwovens Institute, North Carolina State University, is entitled Elastic Nonwovens Using Styrenic Block Copolymers: the Next Generation of Spunbond and Melt Blown Fabrics for Durable and Disposable Applications. This presentation will occur on Wednesday, April 13, from 11:50 a.m. – 12:20 p.m.