Mark Siebert, Vice President of Adhesives, Sealants and Coatings, points out that "Kraton D1183 BT is suitable for use in many adhesive applications including thermal printing labels, high temperature resistant labels, elastic labels and diaper tabs.” “It is an excellent choice”, continues Mr Siebert, “for adhesives in hygiene applications and its shear strength is particularly good at 37 degrees C”.

Kraton D1183 BT offers economically attractive adhesive formulations, giving formulators the ability to dilute it further to obtain equivalent performance levels of competing products, which can eventually result in cost-savings.

According to Kraton’s technicians the new polymer can achieve significantly higher cohesive strength and higher temperature resistance without the use of expensive end block resins. Therefore, Kraton D1183 BT is not only economically attractive, but also considerably stronger and provides a wider formulating space.

Prior to the commercialization of Kraton D1183 BT, innovators used low-coupled SIS block copolymers to impart softness to end-products. Although they offered improved adhesion on open and porous substrates and good label die-cutting performance, they often lacked cohesion, which held back their use in applications where higher shear and temperature resistance was required. In comparison, Kraton D1183 BT is a 40% diblock SIS, which shows superior performance to low-coupled SIS block copolymers and is therefore the polymer of choice for these applications.

Kraton Performance Polymers, Inc., through its operating subsidiary Kraton Polymers LLC and its subsidiaries, is a leading global producer of engineered polymers and possibly the world's largest producer of styrenic block copolymers (SBCs).