HOUSTON, April 10, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Kraton Performance Polymers, Inc. (NYSE: "KRA"), a leading global producer of styrenic block copolymers or SBCs, announces the first commercial sale and application of its highly modified asphalt (HiMA) technology in the United States.

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The Oklahoma Department of Transportation (DOT) is using Kraton Polymers' HiMA technology in a two-mile rehabilitation project on Interstate 40 in Caddo County, Oklahoma. Kraton Polymers has been advised that this high-profile I-40 project is being closely studied by personnel of the Oklahoma DOT, Oklahoma Asphalt Pavement Association, and the Federal Highway Administration.

The DOT based the pavement design and HiMA binder specification on their successful rehabilitation trial at the National Center for Asphalt Technology in Opelika, AL , which began in the summer of 2009.

HiMA uses a styrene-butadiene-styrene (SBS) polymer with a low-enough viscosity that allows use in high percentages, 7 1/2 percent, while still allowing a paving mix to remain workable and compactable. Conventional polymer modifiers, when used in high percentages, result in a mix that is too viscous and hard to compact. Modification of liquid asphalt binders with polymers improves resistance to rutting, raveling and fatigue of asphalt mixes, but there is a practical limit to polymer concentration. Usually, as polymer concentration exceeds about three percent, the viscosity of the binder increases such that the mix becomes more difficult to produce in the plant and less workable for the paving crew.

"Kraton Polymers' HiMA formulation allows durable asphalt pavement with a reduced pavement thickness that lowers costs thus permitting larger resurfacing opportunities within fixed budgets," said Bob Kluttz, Senior Research Scientist, Kraton Polymers. "HiMA technology enables the installation of roads that last longer and require less maintenance," he continued.

"Our goal is to make pavements more cost-effective," said Kluttz. "The Kraton formulation allows us to add more polymer into the mixes to achieve an asphalt thickness reduction of up to 50%, which we expect will make the pavement less costly upfront," he concluded.

"I expect to see an asphalt pavement that's a lot more resilient, something that's stronger and stiffer that will last a lot longer by being rut resistant," said Stuart Gragg, project manager for Haskell Lemon Construction Co., the paving contractor. "Superpave designs, together with this highly modified asphalt cement, will help us prolong the lifespan of this pavement," he continued. "It should be more rut-resistant and should help fight fatigue cracks. If we can go from a 10- to 12-year-life span on an overlay to a 15 to 20-year life span, that will save a lot of dollars in maintenance costs," he concluded.

For additional information about Kraton Polymers' HiMA technology, please contact Marcie Coronado at 281-504-4975 or visit www.pavewithkraton.com.

About Kraton Polymers

Kraton Performance Polymers, Inc., through its operating subsidiary Kraton Polymers LLC and its subsidiaries, is a leading global producer of engineered polymers and styrenic block copolymers ("SBCs"), a family of products whose chemistry was pioneered by us almost fifty years ago. SBCs are highly-engineered thermoplastic elastomers, which enhance the performance of numerous products by delivering a variety of attributes, including greater flexibility, resilience, strength, durability and processability. Our polymers are used in a wide range of applications, including adhesives, coatings, consumer and personal care products, sealants and lubricants, and medical, packaging, automotive, paving, roofing and footwear products. We currently offer approximately 800 products to more than 700 customers in over 60 countries worldwide, and are the only SBC producer with manufacturing and service capabilities on four continents. We manufacture products at five plants globally, including our flagship plant in Belpre, Ohio, as well as plants in Germany, France and Brazil, and a joint venture plant operated in Japan.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release may contain "forward-looking statements," which are statements other than statements of historical fact and are often characterized by the use of words such as "believes," "expects," "estimates," "projects," "may," "will," "intends," "plans" or "anticipates," or by discussions of strategy, anticipated performance, plans or intentions. All forward-looking statements in this press release are made based on management's current expectations and estimates, which involve risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause results to differ materially from those expressed in forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties are more fully described in "Part I. Item 1A. Risk Factors" contained in our Annual Report on 10-K, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and as subsequently updated in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. We hereby make reference to all such filings for all purposes. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. We assume no obligation to update such information.

Kraton, the Kraton logo and design, Cariflex, Nexar and the "Giving Innovators their Edge" tagline are all trademarks of Kraton Polymers LLC.

© Kraton Performance Polymers, Inc. 2012.  All rights reserved.

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For Further Information:
Kraton Performance Polymers, Inc.
Media: Marcie Coronado +1-281-504-4975
Investors: H. Gene Shiels +1-281-504-4886

SOURCE Kraton Performance Polymers, Inc.