Elastomer and related operations of Asahi Kasei are expanding as a key field of competitive superiority, with a succession of production capacity increases and product developments during the past several years. The latest product to be commercialized is the SOE-SS™ series of novel polymer materials which feature unrivaled performance as a substitute for flexible PVC (f-PVC).
The SOE-SS™ series features flexibility and other mechanical properties equivalent to f-PVC. Unlike conventional polyolefinic substitutes for f-PVC, it can also be formed using the same processing equipment and conditions as with f-PVC, and displays scratch resistance and wear characteristics superior to f-PVC. In addition, SOE-SS™ features excellent heat stability and weatherability, and outstanding compatibility with a wide range of resins and elastomers, including both olefinics and styrenics, and can be loaded with a high inorganic filler content, enabling wide latitude to prepare blends with modified properties such as hardness.
Efforts to develop f-PVC substitutes, prompted by environmental and safety concerns, have primarily focused on olefinic resins. Despite many years of concerted research throughout the world, candidate materials have remained inferior to f-PVC in terms of scratch resistance and wear characteristics. Moreover, these materials remain unsuitable for calendering, one of the most widely used forming processes for f-PVC. SOE-SS™ not only enables calendering, but also an extensive range of processes including casting, blowing, extrusion molding, injection molding, and foaming. Containing no halogens or plasticizers, it satisfies the demand for a PVC substitute based on concerns related to halogenic combustion products and leaching of plasticizer.
While it is generally known that ethylene/styrene interpolymers synthesized with metallocene catalysts can be produced with properties similar to SOE-SS™, Asahi Kasei's production technology for SOE-SS™ is based on a completely different approach which achieves more competitive production costs. Further, the production technology enables a high degree of freedom to manipulate the polymer structure, enabling subsequent development of products with additional performance characteristics.
Market development for SOE-SS™ as a substitute material has advanced in an expanse of applications where f-PVC has conventionally been used. SOE-SS™ is proving its clear superiority to other materials when used in a wide range of fields including:
- synthetic leather for automotive interiors, footwear, and sporting goods,
- films, sheets, and tapes for packaging use,
- foam moldings for construction and packaging materials,
- vibration damping and soundproofing,
- asphalt modification, and
- adhesives and sealants.
Another new material developed together with SOE-SS™ is the SOE-SO™ series olefinic elastomer, which has already been commercialized. SOE-SO™ is used as a performance modifier for polypropylene in automotive applications and for polyolefin films. In applications such as footwear, its blends with ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA) display compression set performance far superior to that obtained with conventional olefinic elastomers. Sales of SOE-SO™ are growing, as market development continues to progress.
The commercialization of SOE-SS™ and its rapid forecast growth will provide a vital impetus for the overall growth of synthetic rubber, elastomer, and related operations at Asahi Kasei, and additional product developments which will further advance the expansion of this key field are under way.
More information about the new SOE-SS™ series polymers is available on the AKelastomer website. The site, at www.akelastomer.com, provides product descriptions and technical information for Asahi Kasei's lineup of synthetic rubber, elastomers, and related materials.
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