Specialty Styrenic Thermoplastics

Published October 1991

Specialty styrenic thermoplastics are styrene copolymers that have unique physical properties that make them useful in a variety of special applications. The styrenic portions of the polymer make these materials thermoplastics, allowing for good processibility when making automotive items, packaging, footwear or other end-use products.

In this report, the manufacturing processes for making the four most significant specialty styrenic thermoplastics are reviewed. We evaluate the technology and economics for making styrene-isoprene-styrene elastomers and styrene-butadiene resins by batch solution processes, styrene-maleic anhydride by a continuous solution process, and methacrylate-butadiene-styrene impact modifiers by a batch emulsion process.

A valuable characteristic of specialty styrenic thermoplastics is their good processibility in conjunction with other properties such as elasticity, impact resistance and heat resistance. This report provides insights into the relationship between the important physical properties of styrenic thermoplastics and their molecular structure.

The report evaluates the status of this industry's specialty business niches and provides summaries of recent patents in the field.