Kuraray: Massive expansion of TPE portfolio

The Japanese company comes to K 2010 with a multitude of innovative material developments in its TPE portfolio. Among these is a new acrylic TPE marketed under the brand name Kurarity. It is a block copolymer of methyl methacrylate and butyl acrylate that combines excellent transparency and weather resistance with elasticity and good adhesive qualities. The company is currently installing a 5,000 t/a capacity for this product at its Niigata plant in Japan. The expansion is expected to be completed in August 2011.

The acrylic Kurarity TPE included in a LED demonstration socket

The new Septon J series are hydrogenated styrenic TPEs that are said to boast significantly flexibility and a soft feel. The new material shows unique flexibility and a particularly exquisite soft feel. It is suitable for products requiring low-hardness gel, including joint supports and footwear insoles (see paper on p. 220ff of this issue).

Septon Q is a series of products that combine lightweight, exceptional durability and scratch resistance with easy processing and soft-touch. Their first commercial application was in soccer shoes.

The Septon K materials can be directly injection-moulded or extruded onto glass or metal without pretreatment, achieving excellent bondability while retaining the advantages of a thermoplastic elastomer. Thanks to these excellent bonding properties the K series enables faster production and a high degree of freedom in product design, particularly in automotive, electric and electronics, and other glass-related components, and also in the film, sealant, coating, and adhesive fields.

Under the Hybrar brand Kuraray supplies a series of elastomers exhibiting high vibration damping properties at room temperature. There are both hydrogenated and non-hydrogenated grades available. In addition to the superior vibration damping properties, the hydrogenated grades also exhibit very good miscibility with polypropylene, and may be used to produce blends with very good transparency, flexibility and mechanical properties. Kuraray will introduce at K 2010 a brand new high molecular weight Hybrar type with high flow and barrier properties, suitable for transparent films. (see also above-mentioned paper).

Under the brand name Kuramiron Kuraray markets a range of thermoplastic polyurethane elastomers. Thanks to the implementation of a new process technology these TPUs can be supplied with an exceptional uniformity in melt viscosity from lot to lot and a very low gel content making them suitable for example for the production of high-quality films. Kuraray also supplies "green" TPUs with a content of up to 50 % of renewable material.

Further K show highlights at the Kuraray stand include new developments in the field of functionalised liquid rubber.