Kaneka MS Polymer™: Your Vision, Our Technology

Introduction

Kaneka took a pioneering step in the industry by introducing silane-terminated polyethers (STPE) to the Japanese market approximately 40 years ago. The first Kaneka MS PolymerTM classes were launched as high-elasticity, low-modulus sealant materials for use in earthquake-prone regions. The inadequacy of existing silicone and polyurethane sealant solutions created significant market demand for a new and innovative technology. Kaneka researchers successfully combined the advantages of silicones and polyurethanes to produce a new polymer, which they named Modified Silicone Polymer or MS PolymerTM. High elasticity, paintability and superior UV resistance brought MS PolymerTM to great success in Japan and many other places. Kaneka's relentless innovation drive enabled a broad portfolio encompassing sealant materials, adhesives and coating applications.

Technology

Kaneka MS PolymerTM distinguishes itself from other silicones and polyurethanes through its functional polyether main chain and silane end groups. In its moisture-cured system, curing occurs only when both catalyst and water are present; mixing MS PolymerTM with only one of these results in a non-reactive mixture. This enables the acquisition of a raw material with extended stability and durability. After MS PolymerTM is added to the formulation, the moisture content must be carefully controlled to prevent curing within the cartridge, container or other packaging materials.

From Sealants to Adhesives

While the polymer portfolio in the 1970s was limited to high-elasticity sealant materials, recent years have seen increased orientation toward stiffer adhesive classes. First acrylic-modified MS PolymerTM classes were introduced to the market, followed by high-strength classes. There are diverse application areas for both sealant and adhesive classes. In addition to the versatility they offer in terms of mechanical performance, MS PolymerTM-based sealants and adhesives also demonstrate superior adhesion performance. Beyond the primer-free adhesion characteristic known in the industry for metals, superior adhesion performance is also offered for plastics. As the automotive and transportation sectors increasingly turn to lighter materials, demand for structural adhesives that bond well to plastics and composite materials is steadily rising. The latest high-strength MS PolymerTM classes are capable of meeting these demanding applications.

Properties

Kaneka MS PolymerTM has been rapidly and definitively adopted in Japan and Europe thanks to its balanced properties and performance, which are difficult to achieve with other technologies. Continuous new polymer development work over the past 40 years has resulted in a highly extensive portfolio. Depending on the required properties and application area, specific polymers or combinations are selected. The most important properties of Kaneka MS PolymerTM-based sealants and adhesives are: • Able to adhere primer-free to a wide variety of surfaces, • Environmentally friendly: Contains no isocyanates or solvents, low volatile organic compound (VOC) content and can be used in formulating unlabeled products, • Available in a range of low-to-high flow polymers for use in different products spanning from sprayable or easily pourable products to putty-type sealants/adhesives, • Climate resistance and durability: Offers high UV, heat and moisture resistance, • Maintains high elasticity even at temperatures below 0°C, • Easily applied at very low or very high temperatures, • Readily paintable with water or solvent-based paints, • Provides extended shelf life through stability during storage, • Does not generate gas during curing, preventing bubble formation, • Can have a hardness ranging from very soft to hard.

Applications

The properties mentioned above mean that Kaneka MS PolymerTM-based sealants and adhesives find application in a wide variety of uses: • Do-It-Yourself (DIY) and Consumer Products: Multi-purpose sealants and adhesives, high-strength repair adhesives, mirror adhesives, plumbing sealants, strong adhesives. • Floor Covering: Parquet, wood, luxury vinyl tiles (LVT), mosaics, tiles. • Building and Construction: Exterior facade joints, natural stone and perimeter joints, panel bonding. Additionally, waterproofing for extensive repairs, bitumen, adhesives for EPDM/TPO sheets and roof sealants. All these construction sealants and adhesives provide wind, air and water-tight structures, offering suitable solutions for low-energy-consumption buildings. • Industrial Applications: Semi-structural adhesives specific to the automotive and transportation sectors such as windshield and panel adhesives, sealants for refrigeration containers and fire-retardant sealants. While new applications such as MS Foam continue to be developed, pressure-resistant adhesives can also be produced or developed using Kaneka MS PolymerTM.

Conclusion

Kaneka's current and unique MS PolymerTM portfolio addresses sealant, adhesive and even coating needs. The technology kit offered facilitates the work of formulation preparers and improves product quality. As a science-fiction company with 40 years of experience in moisture-curing technology, Kaneka puts everything into making your dreams a reality.   Jo Indesteege Director MS Polymer Division Kaneka Belgium NV