Deltech Polymers has commercialized two new grades of polystyrene resin for the compounding and concentrates markets.
Both new grades are types of high flow crystal PS, officials with Troy, Ohio-based Deltech said in a news release. One of the materials can be used in injection molding, but is targeted for the PS masterbatch concentrates market. The other is an additive-free grade specifically targeted for color masterbatch concentrates and additives.
Officials said that the launch of the two new grades "gives Deltech one of the broadest offering of additive free crystal polystyrene products." The new products have found homes in color and additive compounds due to their higher melt flows without the addition of mineral oil, which they said has been used historically to decrease viscosity.
"Our size, coupled with industry leading flexibility, allows us to offer a wide range of products designed to meet price performance targets in crystal PS applications," Vice President and General Manager Joe Andrews said in the release.
Deltech worked with market veteran Mark Bruner on the product launch. Bruner has extensive experience in PS resin with Huntsman Corp. and Nova Chemicals and in compounding with O'Neil Color & Compounding. He said in the release that although Deltech is a smaller player in the North American PS market, the firm is "a formidable supplier."
"Their smaller footprint allows them to run much smaller campaigns than the three larger PS producers and make specialty, niche grades," Bruner added.
Deltech operates a total of 140 million pounds of annual production for PS and styrene-acrylic copolymers in Troy. The firm opened in 1988 but the Troy site closed in 2003 after the business was sold to Nova. Deltech reopened the Troy plant in 2010 after a noncompete agreement with Nova had expired.
