LG Chem

Natural latex, which can make excellent elastic and soft rubber products, is extracted from rubber trees.

Because of the perception that it is close to nature, it is mainly used for products that come into direct contact with sensitive skin such as bedding, rubber gloves, baby bottles, and condoms.

However, because natural latex uses several chemicals such as vulcanization additives to make rubber products, it is not completely natural as expected, and contains proteins that can cause allergic reactions in some people.

Various synthetic latexes with improved durability, oil resistance, strength, and adhesion have been developed to compensate for these shortcomings of natural latex and to be used for more diverse purposes.

LG Chem produces NBR Latex, a raw material for disposable nitrile gloves (refer to ‘NBR Latex’ in ‘LG Chem in Everyday Life’ and LG Chem’s official blog) and SB Latex, an adhesive for paper coating.

Among them, SB Latex (Styrene-Butadiene Latex) is a milky liquid product like natural latex, and is produced mainly from styrene and butadiene, which are raw materials for polymer materials such as synthetic resins.

The surface of printed paper for magazines, flyers, catalogs, etc., which is commonly encountered in daily life, and the surface of coated cardboard used for packaging boxes of sweets, food, and products are coated with stone powder such as clay and calcium carbonate evenly, so that it can be printed clearly and close to the real thing without ink smearing.

SB Latex has been used for a long time as an adhesive that bonds these stone powders (inorganic pigments)  to the paper due to their excellent adhesion and gloss.

In recognition of the excellence of SB Latex products, LG Chem is exporting them not only to Asia but also to other parts of the world, promoting LG Chem's technological prowess widely.