An enhanced version of a clear styrene-butadiene copolymer is now avaialbe from BASF for use in extrusion, injection molded and thermoformed packaging of plastics products.

The enhanced Styrolux* 3G55, from BASF, for food service, packaging products requires less SBC in blends with GPPS -- but is tougher and easier to process. The improved version of Styrolux Styrene-Butadiene Copolymer (SBC) that helps manufacturers of food service and packaging products to make clear plastic cups, trays, utensils and lids tougher -- while reducing production costs.

BASF is using a proprietary polymerization technique to increase the toughness of its improved Styrolux 3G55, which can be used in blends with general purpose polystyrene (GPPS) for extrusion and thermoforming applications. Compared to conventional blends of SBC and GPPS, up to 25 percent less Styrolux 3G55 is needed to achieve desired toughness/stiffness and thermoforming ratios.

“At a time when rising materials prices are putting greater cost pressures on manufacturers, Styrolux 3G55 gives our customers the ability to minimize the cost of applications by adjusting the ratio of SBC to help meet their performance and cost targets,” said Herman Savenije, Business Director of BASF’s Styrenic Copolymers in North America.

In addition to food service and packaging applications, Styrolux 3G55 can be used in the manufacture of blister packaging and oriented polystyrene (OPS) packaging. Styrolux 3G55 is manufactured at BASF’s Altamira, Mexico, facility.

Styrolux* thermoplastic copolymers are a range of thermoplastic styrene-butadiene copolymers (SBC) from BASF. One of the outstanding characteristics of Styrolux thermoplastic copolymers is their combination of high transparency, brilliance and impact resistance. The good miscibility of Styrolux and polystyrene allows adjustment to the desired toughness, while at the same time reducing material costs. Styrolux can be extruded, thermoformed and injection molded into a variety of high-quality products.

Styrolux is BASF’s trademark for a portfolio of clear styrene-butadiene copolymers used in injection molding and extrusion thermoplastic applications that offer outstanding clarity, exceptional toughness and low density. Styrolux is used for medical applications, food service products such as thermoformed clear drinking cups and plates, shrink labels, flexible packaging, toys and household appliances.

For extrusion applications, such as producing thermoformed cups, trays or lids, Styrolux blended with GPPS gives the required stiffness and minimizes the cost of your application.

It’s the blend that performs! Styrolux 3G 55 has a lower stiffness than conventional resins. However, the stiffness of blends with GPPS actually increases at comparable toughness, making packaging more attractive. With Styrolux 3G 55, BASF has now raised its performance to even higher levels – guaranteeing the highest quality for packaging applications.

Based in Florham Park, New Jersey, BASF Corporation is the North American affiliate of BASF AG, Ludwigshafen, Germany. BASF’s portfolio ranges from chemicals, plastics, performance products, agricultural products and fine chemicals to crude oil and natural gas.

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