Kraton
Kraton is a Rubber Materials brand from United States.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Kraton Polymers is the manufacturing business associated with the Kraton trade name, a family of high-performance thermoplastic elastomers and related specialty polymer materials. The products are designed to provide some of the flexibility, traction, resilience, and sealing performance associated with natural rubber while improving resistance to heat, weathering, oxidation, and chemicals in selected grades. They are supplied primarily as formulation ingredients rather than as finished consumer products. The business traces its industrial roots to the United States synthetic-rubber program developed during the Second World War. That government-supported effort sought to establish domestic production of styrene-butadiene rubber, or SBR, at a time when access to natural rubber was strategically constrained. A synthetic-rubber facility in Torrance, California, was subsequently acquired by Shell Oil Company from the U.S. government. Shell organized the operation within an Elastomers Division and expanded its elastomer technologies and product range during the 1950s. The reference material identifies Murray Luftglass and Norman R. Legge as important technical leaders during that period. Kraton’s best-known materials are styrenic block copolymers, or SBCs. Their molecular architecture combines hard polystyrene blocks with rubber-like blocks based on polybutadiene, polyisoprene, or hydrogenated derivatives. In a typical triblock structure, polystyrene segments occur at both ends of a central rubber segment. The hard domains provide reversible physical cross-linking, while the rubber phase supplies elasticity. Because these physical cross-links soften when heated and reform during cooling, the materials can be processed by casting, molding, or extrusion while retaining elastomeric behavior in use. The principal product families described in the reference material are Kraton D, including SBS and SIS materials, and Kraton G, including selectively hydrogenated SEBS and SEPS materials. Hydrogenation generally improves resistance to oxidation, ultraviolet exposure, and elevated processing temperatures. The polyolefinic character of SEBS and SEPS also supports compatibility with polyolefins and paraffinic oils. These properties allow customers to tailor compounds with oils, resins, bitumen, fillers, polystyrene, and other polymers. Applications span hot-melt adhesives, medical thermoplastic-elastomer compounds, soft-touch and non-slip grips, impact-modified polypropylene products, roofing and paving materials, oil gels, elastic components in hygiene products, and specialty cable materials. In asphalt and bitumen modification, Kraton polymers can increase flexibility and durability for demanding paving or below-grade applications. Automotive uses include flexible exterior components, with early commercial examples cited in the 1970s. Certain grades have also been used in flexible cable compounds and in products requiring shear-thinning, grease-like behavior. The business changed ownership as Shell pursued a divestment program announced in 1998. The elastomers operation was sold to Ripplewood Holdings in 2000. Kraton later became a separately traded public company through an initial public offering completed on December 17, 2009, although the supplied material does not provide current ownership, listing, or operating-status information. In 2021, Kraton employees received an ASC Innovation Award connected with the development of the REvolution next-generation biobased tackifier platform. The available sources establish Kraton’s technical heritage and applications but do not provide enough reliable current information to characterize its present corporate structure, leadership, or financial performance.
History
Kraton’s history is rooted in the American synthetic-rubber effort of the Second World War. The United States government supported the development of domestic styrene-butadiene rubber production to reduce reliance on natural rubber and to establish a strategic industrial supply base. A manufacturing facility built in Torrance, California, for that purpose was later acquired from the government by Shell Oil Company. Shell placed the facility within an Elastomers Division and expanded its elastomer activities during the 1950s. The supplied reference identifies Murray Luftglass and Norman R. Legge as significant technical leaders in the development of the business. Over time, the operation became associated with the Kraton name and with a broader range of styrenic block copolymer technologies. Kraton materials differ from conventional rubber in that they can combine elasticity with thermoplastic processing. Their block-copolymer structure uses hard polystyrene domains and softer rubber-like domains. At normal service temperatures, the hard domains act as reversible physical anchors for the rubber phase. When heated above the softening range of the styrenic domains, the material can flow and be shaped; when cooled, it regains elastomeric behavior. This made the materials useful for molded, extruded, adhesive, and modified-bitumen applications. The D product family is associated with SBS and SIS structures, while the G family includes hydrogenated materials such as SEBS and SEPS. Hydrogenated grades are valued for improved resistance to heat, oxidation, and ultraviolet exposure and for their compatibility with polyolefins and paraffinic oils. Customers use these polymers in compounds containing oils, resins, fillers, bitumen, and other plastics. The business entered a new ownership phase after Shell announced a divestment program in December 1998. The Kraton elastomers business was sold to Ripplewood Holdings in 2000. Kraton subsequently completed an initial public offering on December 17, 2009, becoming a separately traded company according to the reference material. The available sources do not establish the company’s current ownership or listing status. Commercial uses developed across transportation, construction, adhesives, healthcare, hygiene, consumer products, and communications. Early automotive applications appeared in the 1970s, including flexible bumper and fascia components. The materials were also used for flexible wheel-arch components, non-slip grips, elastic attachments, medical compounds, oil gels, optical-fiber cable materials, and asphalt modification. In 2021, employees received an ASC Innovation Award for the REvolution next-generation biobased tackifier work. This award indicates continued development of renewable-content specialty materials, but the supplied sources do not provide further details about the platform’s commercialization or current product portfolio.
- 2021
ASC Innovation Award recognizes REvolution tackifier work
[1]Kraton employees receive an ASC Innovation Award for next-generation biobased tackifier development under the REvolution name.
- 2009
Initial public offering
[1]Kraton completes an initial public offering on December 17, 2009.
- 2000
Ripplewood Holdings acquires the elastomers business
[1]The Kraton elastomers business is sold by Shell to Ripplewood Holdings.
- 1998
Shell announces divestment program
[1]Shell announces a divestment program that leads to the separation of the Kraton elastomers business.
- 1970
Kraton G materials enter automotive applications
[1]The reference material identifies the 1970s as the period when Kraton G thermoplastic rubber began appearing in automotive applications.
- 1950
Shell expands the elastomers operation
[1]Shell Oil Company broadens its elastomer portfolio during the 1950s through its Elastomers Division.
- 1940
U.S. synthetic-rubber program establishes the industrial foundation
[1]A U.S. government-supported wartime program develops domestic styrene-butadiene rubber production, creating the industrial background from which the later Kraton business emerged.
Products and positioning
Specialty polymer and thermoplastic-elastomer supplier focused on synthetic rubber performance, formulation flexibility, and durable end-use compounds.
Styrenic block copolymers
Kraton D
Kraton D refers primarily to SBS and SIS styrenic block copolymers. These materials combine polystyrene hard domains with polybutadiene- or polyisoprene-based rubber domains. They are used in adhesives, flexible molded goods, modified bitumen, grips, and other compounds where elasticity, traction, and thermoplastic processability are required.
Hydrogenated styrenic block copolymers
Kraton G
Kraton G includes selectively hydrogenated SBC grades such as SEBS and SEPS. Compared with non-hydrogenated structures, these materials provide improved resistance to oxidation, ultraviolet exposure, and elevated temperatures. Their compatibility with polyolefins and paraffinic oils supports medical compounds, soft-touch products, automotive components, oil gels, and specialty cable applications.
Tackifying resins · 2021
REvolution biobased tackifiers
REvolution is identified in the reference material as a next-generation biobased tackifier development recognized by an ASC Innovation Award in 2021. Tackifiers are formulation ingredients used to improve adhesion and tack in systems such as hot-melt adhesives. The available material does not specify the full commercial range, launch date, or current availability.
Construction and paving modifiers
Kraton polymer-modified bitumen systems
Kraton polymers can be blended into asphalt and bitumen to improve flexibility and performance. Such modified systems are relevant to roofing felts, below-grade waterproofing, demanding paving applications, and specialized surfaces including racing tracks. The polymer serves as a performance modifier rather than as the finished construction product.
Brand decisions
2009
Kraton completes an initial public offeringOtherBackground
Following its period under private ownership, Kraton pursued separation as an independently traded company.
Action taken
The company completed its IPO on December 17, 2009.
Aftermath
Kraton became a separately traded public company according to the supplied reference material; current listing details are not established here.
2000
Sale to Ripplewood HoldingsM&ABackground
The Kraton elastomers operation was being separated from Shell as part of Shell’s announced divestment program.
Action taken
Ripplewood Holdings acquired the business from Shell.
Aftermath
The business continued outside Shell and later pursued a public-market structure.
1998
Shell chooses to divest the elastomers businessStrategyBackground
Shell’s broader divestment program created the conditions for the Kraton elastomers operation to leave the oil company’s portfolio.
Action taken
Shell announced the divestment program, which was followed by the sale of the business to Ripplewood Holdings in 2000.
Aftermath
The transaction separated the elastomers business from Shell and placed it under private-equity ownership.
Recent events
DL Chemical announces planned acquisition of Kraton[3]
Reported:
DL Chemical said it would acquire Texas-based specialty chemical manufacturer Kraton for $1.6 billion, including the assumption of Kraton's net debt. The proposed acquisition would expand DL Chemical's presence in the US and European markets.
Kraton announces price increase for HSBC products[4]
Reported:
Kraton announced a general price increase of USD 440 per metric ton for all HSBC products, to take effect September 1, 2021, subject to applicable contracts and obligations. The company cited increases in raw-material, energy and logistics costs.
Kraton announces global price increase for HSBC products[5]
Reported:
Kraton announced a general price increase of 220 USD per metric ton for all HSBC products, scheduled to take effect January 15, 2021, subject to applicable contracts.
Sources8 sources
- 1Kraton (polymer)en.wikipedia.org
- 2Kraton G SEBS and SEPS polymer official data documents and applicationskraton.com
- 3DL Chemical宣布计划收购Kratonkoreaherald.com
- 4Kraton宣布上调HSBC产品价格prnewswire.com
- 5Kraton宣布HSBC产品全球涨价prnewswire.com
- 6Kraton Corporation Announces Global Price Increase For Pine Chemical Productsprnewswire.com
- 7Kraton Corporation Announces Global Price Increase For Pine Chemicals And AMS Productsprnewswire.com
- 8Kraton Corporation To Be Acquired By Chemical Co. Ltdplastemart.com
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