Kaneka is awarded the Commendation for Science and Technology (Development) by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology

―Development of wholly-saturated isobutylene-based thermoplastic elastomer―

Kaneka Corporation
May 18, 2018

Kaneka Corporation (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; President: Mamoru Kadokura)　is awarded the 2018’s Commendation for Science and Technology (Development) by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology*1 for the development of wholly-saturated isobutylene-based thermoplastic elastomer, and the commendation ceremony was held at the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology on April 17.

The isobutylene-based thermoplastic elastomer*2 (block copolymer of (styrene)-(isobutylene)-(styrene), hereinafter SIBS, product name: SIBSTAR®) is a material having both thermoplastic and elastomeric properties synthesized via the living cationic polymerization*3．Kaneka was highly evaluated for its industrialization ahead of other companies in the world, which led to this award.

SIBS is capable of being processed similar to plastic, wholly-saturated*4 and excellent in heat aging resistance*5. Polyisobutylene, which is a rubber constituent of the product, featuring elasticity, adhesiveness, gas barrier and damping similar to butyl rubber, the product is used for sealants, adhesive agents, tubes and damping materials. Kaneka will expand its application such as to food packaging, electricity and electronics, and construction fields.


Naoki Furukawa　Taizo Inoue　Ryuji Fukuda
(Former name: Taizo Aoyama)

  1. This award aims to praise people who made significant achievements in research and development, and promotion of understanding related to science and technology to encourage people who are engaged in science and technology to contribute to improvement of our scientific and technological level. The commendation for science and technology has 5 sections, which are Development, Research, Promotion of Science and Technology, Technology, and Promotion of Understanding.
  2.  It is a polymer material that has characteristics of both synthetic rubber and thermoplastic resin. It features rubber elasticity at a normal temperature, and is plasticized at a high temperature and can be processed and formed like plastics.
  3. The basic technique was invented by J.P. Kennedy et al. at University of Akron. Kaneka applied it to the industrial production technique for SIBS.
  4. Its chemical structure is all composed with saturated bond without double bond in the rubber constituent.
  5. Characteristic that withstands deterioration caused by heat.