Braskem Unilene showcased at Expobor 2018

The family of hydrocarbon resins is ideal for making rubber compounds, since it improves product quality, boosts productivity and reduces costs

With new solutions in raw materials, high-performance products and personalized service, Braskem reinforced its presence and contact with clients in the rubber industry at Expobor 2018, which was held on June 26-28 at Expo Center Norte, in São Paulo. The company highlighted the advantages of its product portfolio that leverages the productivity and competitiveness of rubber manufacturers.

Braskem’s highlight at the event was the Braskem Unilene line, which features hydrocarbon resins used to make high-performance rubber compounds, adhesives and paints. Functioning as excellent auxiliaries for rubber processing, they boost productivity and reduce energy consumption without modifying the product’s final properties. In automotive vehicles, for example, their use ensures better traction on wet roads and lower rolling resistance, which improves safety for drivers and passengers and reduces fuel consumption.

“As Latin America’s leading hydrocarbon resin producer, Braskem guarantees rapid delivery and continues to develop new products and applications for the industry,” explained Adriana Morasco, head of Braskem’s Speciality Chemicals business. “Braskem also maintains an important presence in the international market, with sales teams in the United States, Europe, Asia, clients in more than 20 countries and annual exports of over 5,000 tons,” she concluded.

The company also presented its polybutene (PIB) solution, which can be used in films, adhesives, oils and lubricants, mining explosives, leather and cosmetics. The raw material prevents the passage of air through the rubber and makes it more resistant. As a result, products manufactured with PIB can be made with thinner walls without sacrificing any properties. PIB also makes synthetic crude rubber mass more fluid, which enables the machines to produce more in less time while saving energy.

“We are very optimistic and see the rubber industry as very important to Braskem, which offers an extensive portfolio. The portfolio ranges from butadiene, which is used to make rubber, to speciality chemicals, such as Braskem Unilene and PIB. Our goal is to reinforce the company’s commitment to strengthening the region’s production chain, which has shown clear signs of a recovery in production,” the executive concluded.

Braskem Solutions for the rubber market:

Tires – Treads

Product: Braskem Unilene

Function: Optimizes the processing of sole components, helping to improve flow, which facilitates the incorporation of hard-to-process materials, such as recycled materials. Applications in rubber-based soles.

Benefits: Promotes a homogeneous and stable mixture with productivity gains, without affecting the properties of the base-polymer.

Tiers – Inner Liner

Product: Braskem PIB

Function: In inner liners, it promotes a gas barrier, which reduces the quantity of specialty rubbers required in the compound.

Benefits: Reduces formulation costs, enabling a 30% reduction in the quantity of butyl rubber used in the tire layer in contact with the air.

Soles

Product: Braskem Unilene

Function: Optimizes the processing of sole components, helping to improve flow, which facilitates the incorporation of hard-to-process materials, such as recycled materials. Applications in rubber-based soles.

Benefits: Promotes a homogeneous and stable mixture with productivity gains, without affecting the properties of the base-polymer.

Hoses

Product: Braskem PIB

Function: Increases the gas-barrier of rubbers used in hoses.

Benefits: Reduces the quantity of high-barrier rubber used in the compound by enabling thinner, lighter and more efficient rubber walls.

Synthetic Rubber

Products: Butadiene, Ethylene, Propylene, Benzene

Function: Can be used to make various rubbers, such as BR, NBR, SBR, PBR and PSBR.

Benefits: Synthetic rubber for general applications, with excellent chemical and thermal resistance. Superior quality and increased competitiveness compared to natural rubber, depending on the application. Used in tires, construction materials, home appliances and mechanical devices.

Rubber goods

Product: Braskem Unilene

Function: Enhances rubber processing. Benefits: Facilitates the molding of rubber parts, such as O-rings, bushings, mounts and bump stops.