To help mitigate the current global isoprene shortage that is compelling packaging tape and label manufacturers to seek alternative ingredients for their hotmelt pressure sensitive adhesive formulations, Eastman Chemical is offering a new formulation strategy. The company claims it can reduce the use of isoprene in HMPSA's by more than 50 per cent.
Eastman says that, depending on the specific performance demands of a given HMPSA application, it is now possible to provide substantial substitution of isoprene monomers in an adhesives formulation using a blend of the Kraton Polymers SIBS (styrene-isoprene-butadiene-styrene) block copolymer and SBS (styrene-butadiene-styrene) block copolymer. Proper blending of SIBS and SBS, combined with Eastman’s Piccotac 7590-N hydrocarbon resin, is said to allow adhesives formulators a cost effective, viable alternative.
Produced with the more readily available butadiene monomers, in some cases the new formulation can enhance the overall performance of HMPSA's, it is claimed.
“The research we’ve documented allows packaging tape and label manufacturers to meet the specific challenges presented by the current shortage without sacrificing HMPSA performance,” says Chrétien Donker, a product application manager for Eastman. “Building on our past innovations and knowledge, we will continue assisting tape and label manufacturers in overcoming isoprene scarcity.”
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