Kuraray raising elastomer prices

Tokyo – Japanese materials supplier Kuraray is raising the prices of some of its elastomers globally, effective 1 Dec.

All styrenic copolymers Septon, Hybrar and polyurethane-based TU-Polymer elastomers will see a price rise of $0.22 per kilogramme (€.10 per pound), Kuraray’s Elastomer’s Business announced 29 Oct.

Kuraray said an increase in feedstock prices from the second quarter of 2020 had led to higher costs for the production of the speciality high performance materials.

In addition, utility and logistics costs have continued to increase, the company said. 

“It is necessary to recover a portion of these increases to ensure ongoing supply and new product innovation,” Kuraray added.

Septon is a styrenic thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) used in a variety of forms, including consumer goods, soft touch grips and automotive components.

Hybrar is a triblock co-polymer with polystyrene end blocks and a vinyl bonded rich polydiene mid-block.

The polymer, according to Kurary, exhibits high vibration damping and shock absorption properties and be processed into films, tubes and through injection moulding.