LyondellBasell Industries has launched a new range of butene-1 based polymers, marketed under the trade name Koattro, mainly for customers for manufacturing of elastic applications such as film, fiber, tapes, closure lines and aesthetic injection molding. Koattro resins feature outstanding compatibility to polypropylene that enable improvements in flexibility, transparency, impact resistance, tensile properties and stress- whitening behavior.
Test results showed that Koattro plastomers deliver a unique combination of softness (Shore A 70) and elasticity with a compression set of 45 per cent that is constant almost up to the high melting temperature of 114°C. The polymers exhibit higher level of performance relative to to other plastomers, due to the low crystalline phase homogenously dispersed in the butene-1. Earlier, the same level has been achieved in the past only by cross-linking different polymers.
The resins can address the needs of customers who want to improve elasticity in stretch films or who are looking for a PVC replacement in closure lines. The resins can also be considered for use in automotive applications in which the reduced stress whitening of finished parts can ease installation. In addition, the higher heat resistance offers benefits for the manufacturing of dashboards, wire and cable and heat-resistant thermoplastic polyolefin (TPO) skins. Since the new plastomer is highly soluble in oil, it can also be considered for use in applications such as grease additives, bitumen and cosmetics.
03-Nov-08 
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