Eastman Offers Solution for Isoprene Shortage

Published: May 21, 2006, By pffc-online.com

PRESS RELEASE

KINGSPORT, TN—The current global isoprene shortage is compelling tape and label manufacturers to seek alternative ingredients for their hot-met pressure-sensitive adhesive (HMPSA) formulations for packaging tapes and labels. Eastman Chemical Co. offers a new formulation strategy that can reduce the use of isoprene by more than 50% in HMPSAs. The solution was presented in a technical paper at the Pressure-Sensitive Tap Council's TECH XXIX technical seminar. The study, entitled "A New Generation of Hot-Helt Tape Formulations, Using Blends of SIBS and SBS Block Copolymers and New Hydrocarbon Tackifying Resins," includes performance data and sample formulation tables and is available at eastman.com/PSTC.

The study reports that, depending on the specific performance demand of a given HMPSA application, it now is 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 copolymers and SBS (styrene-butadiene-styrene) block copolymer. It concludes that proper blending of SIBS and SBS, combined with Eastman's Piccotac 7590-N hydrocarbon resin, allows adhesive formulators a cost-effective, viable alternative. Produced with more readily available butadiene monomers, in some cases the new formulation reportedly can enhance the overall performance of HMPSAs.

See eastman.com.