KINGSPORT, Tenn. -- Eastman Chemical Company announces the launch of Eastman Tritan™ copolyester, a new-generation copolyester that is ideal for a broad range of applications, including housewares, appliances and sheet applications. The result of new technology, this innovative material delivers the advantages of traditional copolyesters, such as clarity and chemical resistance, with higher heat resistance, improved design flexibility and ease of processing. These unique attributes offer differentiated performance for brand owners, designers, fabricators, processors and consumers. Tritan is being introduced in Hall 5, Booth H04 at K 2007, currently taking place until October 31st at Messe Dusseldorf, Germany.
"An introduction of this magnitude has not been seen in the plastics marketplace for many years," says Dr. Gregory O. Nelson, Executive Vice President and Polymers Business Group Head, Eastman Chemical Company. "With its unique balance of properties, Tritan will open the door to a new era of product innovation for Eastman and our customers."
Tritan's unique chemistry provides a higher glass transition temperature (Tg) than traditional copolyesters, allowing the material to deliver superior heat resistance. This new-generation copolyester can also be molded into various applications without incorporating high levels of residual stress. Combined with Tritan's outstanding chemical resistance and hydrolytic stability, these features give molded products enhanced durability in the dishwasher environment, which can expose products to high heat, humidity and aggressive cleaning detergents.
The new material's lower inherent residual stress gives designers a new level of freedom to create products with enhanced aesthetics and functionality attributes, as product designs do not need to be limited to minimize the effects of residual stress. This feature can allow brands to differentiate their products at retail and better meet consumer demand for enhanced product performance.
Tritan provides faster molding cycles than many other transparent plastics and can be used in injection molds designed for traditional polymers, including polycarbonate. As the material does not require an additional annealing step after molding, due to its lower inherent residual stress, these attributes may result in significant manufacturing advantages, including reducing energy use, improving processing times, lowering associated costs and increasing production rates.
With a two percent lower density than polycarbonate, Tritan also yields more parts per kilogram of resin, which may contribute to material savings. These savings are extended by the new copolyester's durability, which can help to lengthen product lifetime and lower replacement costs.
While Tritan offers a higher glass transition temperature (Tg) than traditional copolyesters, sheet products manufactured with the new polymer do not require pre-drying. The durable and lightweight products can also be thermoformed faster and at lower temperatures than polycarbonate sheet. These unique forming attributes contribute to superior material distribution properties and open the decorating window when using pre-form decorative paints, inks and vinyl.
"Tritan is a revolutionary step forward in the plastics marketplace and is a direct result of the ingenuity and technical expertise that has come to be expected of Eastman," adds Dr. Nelson. "This new-generation copolyester will provide the plastics industry with an opportunity to better address evolving consumer needs with differentiated, higher performance products.
About Eastman Chemical Company
Eastman Chemical Company manufactures and markets chemicals, fibers and plastics worldwide. It provides key differentiated coatings, adhesives and specialty plastics products; is one of the world's largest producers of PET polymers for packaging; and is a major supplier of cellulose acetate fibers. As a Responsible Care® company, Eastman is committed to achieving the highest standards of health, safety, environmental and security performance. Founded in 1920 and headquartered in Kingsport, Tenn., Eastman is a FORTUNE 500 company with 2006 sales of $7.5 billion and approximately 11,000 employees.
