Kingsport, Tenn.

A global isoprene shortage is compelling tape and label manufacturers to seek alternative ingredients for their hot-melt, pressure-sensitive adhesive (HMPSA) formulations for packaging tapes and labels, particularly users of SIS (styrene-isoprene-styrene) block copolymers. Eastman Chemical Company, Kingsport, Tenn., has introduced a new formulation strategy that reduces the use of isoprene by more than 50 percent in HMPSA’s. According to Eastman Chemical Company’s technical study, depending on the specific performance demands of a given HMPSA application, it is now 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 copolymer and SBS (styrene-butadiene-styrene)