Kuraray raising elastomer prices in North America

Tokyo – Kuraray’s elastomers business unit is raising prices for a range of elastomer materials in North America, effective 1 May.

The price hike will affect all Septon, Hybrar, TU-Polymer, liquid rubber and Isobam products, “according to the US import tariff change and all related cost increases,” said Kuraray 30 April.

The company did not disclose the extent of the price change.

The hike, Kuraray said, was necessary to recover “a portion of” higher costs to ensure ongoing supply and new product innovation.

The company said it will keep monitoring tariffs and global situation.

Septon is described as a recyclable TPE with ‘high elasticity, high strength, weather resistance, low-temperature properties, chemical resistance, heat aging resistance, and electrical insulation properties.’

The material can be used in various applications including automotive parts, medical parts and sporting goods.

Hybrar is listed as ‘a triblock co-polymer with polystyrene end-blocks and polydiene mid-block.’

Isobam has been described an alkaline hydrosoluble copolymer of isobutylene and maleic anhydride.

It is generally used as a water-soluble emulsion polymerisation stabliser.