HOUSTON, Aug. 25 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Kraton Performance Polymers, Inc. , a leading global producer of styrenic block copolymers or "SBC's" (together with Kraton Polymers LLC and its other subsidiaries, "Kraton"), announced that its roof coating formulation containing Kraton G1643, a styrenic block copolymer (SBC), exceeds requirements in the ASTM International D6083 standard specification recognized in the elastomeric roof coating market.
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ASTM D6083 is an industry standard that establishes minimum performance levels in the following areas: viscosity, weight and volume solids; mechanical properties; adhesion; low temperature flexibility after accelerated weathering; tear resistance; permeation and water swelling; and fungi resistance. This gives innovators an opportunity to more effectively compare polymer-to-polymer for roof coating formulations.
"We are very pleased to announce that G1643, the Kraton polymer used in elastomeric roof coating formulations, surpassed ASTM D6083 requirements," said Mark Siebert, Vice President, Adhesive, Sealants and Coatings. "This SBC based polymer has a proven track record of improving the performance of roof coatings because it adds superior water resistance, improved adhesion, and increased elongation to formulations. It can be used to help lower volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in a solvented formulation, which have significant vapor pressures that can affect the environment and human health. In addition, our tested formulation can be used under the EPA's regulation for thermoplastic rubber coatings and mastic," he concluded.
A roof coating formulation containing Kraton G1643 can reduce total cost of installation and provide fast cure coatings that will work better in cold, humid, or wet conditions. Elastomeric roof coatings made with Kraton polymers will stand up better to ponding water, and provide excellent adhesion to all types of roofing substrates. Roof coatings made with Kraton G1643 are an excellent choice for low slope roofs, or high traffic areas, and will provide excellent reflectance to reduce energy costs, and extend the life of the roof.
To learn more about how Kraton can improve your elastomeric roof coatings and provide value to your customers visit our website at http://www.kraton.com/, or call Jason Surman at 770-552-2005 for more information on starting point formulations.
About Kraton
Kraton Performance Polymers, Inc., through its operating subsidiary Kraton Polymers LLC and its subsidiaries, is a leading global producer of engineered polymers and, we believe, the world's largest producer of styrenic block copolymers ("SBC's"), a family of products whose chemistry was pioneered by us almost fifty years ago. SBC's are highly-engineered thermoplastic elastomers, which enhance the performance of numerous products by delivering a variety of attributes, including greater flexibility, resilience, strength, durability and processability. Our polymers are used in a wide range of applications, including adhesives, coatings, consumer and personal care products, sealants and lubricants, and medical, packaging, automotive, paving, roofing and footwear products. We currently offer approximately 800 products to more than 700 customers in over 60 countries worldwide, and are the only SBC producer with manufacturing and service capabilities on four continents. We manufacture products at five plants globally, including our flagship plant in Belpre, Ohio, as well as plants in Germany, France and Brazil, and a joint venture plant operated in Japan.
Kraton, the Kraton logo and design, and the "Giving Innovators their Edge" tagline are all trademarks of Kraton Polymers LLC.
Forward Looking Statements
This press release includes "forward-looking statements," which are statements other than statements of historical fact and are often characterized by the use of words such as "believes," "expects," "estimates," "projects," "may," "will," "intends," "plans" or "anticipates," or by discussions of strategy, plans or intentions. All forward-looking statements in this press release are made based on management's current expectations and estimates, which involve risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause results to differ materially from those expressed in forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties are more fully described in "Part I. Item 1A. Risk Factors" contained in our Annual Report on 10-K, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and as subsequently updated in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and include risks related to: conditions in the global economy and capital markets; our reliance on LyondellBasell Industries for the provision of significant operating and other services; the failure of our raw materials suppliers to perform their obligations under long-term supply agreements, or our inability to replace or renew these agreements when they expire; limitations in the availability of raw materials we need to produce our products in the amounts or at the prices necessary for us to effectively and profitably operate our business; competition in our end-use markets, by other producers of SBCs and by producers of products that can be substituted for our products; our ability to produce and commercialize technological innovations; our ability to protect our intellectual property, on which our business is substantially dependent; infringement of our products on the intellectual property rights of others; seasonality in our Paving and Roofing business; financial and operating constraints related to our substantial level of indebtedness; product liability claims and other lawsuits arising from environmental damage or personal injuries associated with chemical manufacturing; political and economic risks in the various countries in which we operate; the inherently hazardous nature of chemical manufacturing; health, safety and environmental laws, including laws that govern our employees' exposure to chemicals deemed harmful to humans; regulation of our customers, which could affect the demand for our products or result in increased compliance costs; international trade, export control, antitrust, zoning and occupancy and labor and employment laws that could require us to modify our current business practices and incur increased costs; our relationship with our employees; loss of key personnel or our inability to attract and retain new qualified personnel; fluctuations in currency exchange rates; the fact that we do not enter into long-term contracts with our customers; a decrease in the fair value of our pension assets, which could require us to materially increase future funding of the pension plan; and concentration of ownership among our principal stockholder, which may prevent new investors from influencing significant corporate decisions. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. We assume no obligation to update such information.
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Kraton Performance Polymers, Inc.
CONTACT: Marcie Coronado of Kraton Performance Polymers, Inc.,
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Web Site: http://www.kraton.com/
