THE WOODLANDS, TEXAS (June 15, 2009) - Everyone wants more for less. And Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LP's (Chevron Phillips Chemical) K-Resin® styrene butadiene copolymer (SBC) film grades provide just that. More shelf impact. More application benefits. With less hassle. Specifically designed for shrink label applications, K-Resin® SBC KR52 provides multiple benefits in yield, printability, and blend capability over other shrink film materials.
With a lower density of 1.01 g/cm3, K-Resin® SBC KR52 delivers up to a 25 percent yield advantage over PVC and PETG. In addition to using less material, the up to 80 percent transverse direction (TD) shrinkage characteristic of KR52 at 100 °C allows usage in a broad array of shrink label applications.
Blending KR52 with crystal polystyrene provides additional cost savings and significantly increases the stiffness of the shrink label. KR52 has been successfully blended with up to 30 percent crystal polystyrene while maintaining its broad process window and exceptional clarity.
"Customers are under increasing pressure to reduce costs. The density advantage of KR52 and the ability to effectively reduce SBC content of the application by blending with crystal polystyrene translates into tangible savings versus PETG and competitive high shrink SBCs," said Cliff Pettey, Chevron Phillips Chemical's director of market and applications development for K-Resin® SBC. "Doing more with less sounds cliché, but in this instance it is a significant difference in the amount of SBC needed to produce the shrink film."
"KR52 blends offer very high shrink and are easily processed," said Chris Way, the global sales manager for Reynolds Packaging KAMA. "It consistently labels well at high machine speeds, doesn't wrinkle, and offers better shrink characteristics than many other shrink sleeve film alternatives," he added.
The exceptional clarity and high gloss of KR52 and crystal polystyrene blends provide an eye-catching canvas for customers' artwork. The outstanding surface energy retention characteristics of KR52 blends after surface treatment allow for ease in printed formats.
"We've also achieved excellent ink adhesion with a corona treatment, which we apply during film manufacture," said Chris Way.
Better known for its success in transverse direction oriented sleeves, KR52 is also well suited for machine direction oriented roll on, shrink on (ROSO) applications. While these are typically low shrink applications, the high shrink capabilities of KR52 open up new opportunities in this market. Reynolds Packaging KAMA is currently exploring ROSO prospects in drink bottles and expanded polystyrene foam packaging. Films using KR52 are promising in both of these areas.
"Not only is KR52 an easy product to work with, working with Chevron Phillips Chemical is also very easy," said Way. "The company clearly demonstrates commitment to its products and customers, and we are pleased with the services they provide."
About Chevron Phillips Chemical
Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LP is one of the world's top producers of olefins and polyolefins, and a leading supplier of aromatics, alpha olefins, styrenics, specialty chemicals, plastic piping and polymer resins. As a major brand of the company, K-Resin® SBC is the original clear resin solution. From rigid packaging and film to medical supplies and toys, K-Resin® SBC offers clarity, toughness, and exceptional gloss to a wide variety of winning applications. For more product information, or to speak with a sales representative, call 1-800-356-2592 or visit http://www.k-resin.com/.
About Reynolds Packaging KAMA
Reynolds Packaging KAMA is a leader in the plastics extrusion business producing film and sheet for converters and the thermoforming industry. Serving customers in agriculture, consumer, medical, foodservice, industrial, graphic arts and other markets, the company operates from 5 locations in the US and England. Reynolds Packaging KAMA produces oriented polystyrene sheet and film, PET/RPET/PETG/CPET/HIPS/OPS/PP/DHPE, and co-extruded structures.