SMA LO Resin

The company offers SMA LO resins- low molecular weight styrene-maleic anhydride copolymers- that offer reduced odor and VOC content compared to traditional SMA resins. SMA LO serves as drop-in replacements for existing SMA resin grades used for a variety of applications, including graphic arts, coatings and paints, electronics, textiles and paper manufacturing.

Available in flake and powder form, the resin is manufactured using a free radical initiator that eliminates acetophenone, the odor-causing component associated with traditional styrene-maleic anhydride resins. In the past, these resins were manufactured using an initiator that produced acetophenone as a volatile thermal byproduct. The initiator used to manufacture SMA LO resins forms byproducts that are completely removed during the resin isolation process. Consequently, total VOC content of the base resin is reduced to half the normal concentration. Additionally, product specifications for non-volatile materials (HVM) improve from 98 to 99 percent NVM.

The product offers the same benefits and advantages as traditional SMA resins, including reliability, performance and functionality. Other properties such as acid number, solution viscosity, molecular weight and glass transition temperature also remain the same.

Though SMA LO resin has lower odor and total VOC content, the structure of the polymer remains the same. As a result, there is no change in CAS numbering or TSCA and FDA registration when transitioning to the SMA LO product line.

Arkema Inc., 2000 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103-3222. Tel: 215-419-5289; Fax: 215-419-5902.