Kraton

Cold Steel refers to this material as Kray-Ex in their knives.

Properties of Kraton material

Kraton is produced in several variants for diverse applications. The Kraton G variant is a polymer offering many properties of natural rubber and many more, such as flexibility, high adhesion, resistance to heat, adverse weather conditions, UV radiation, and chemicals. Kraton is both soft and strong.

Uses of Kraton material

Kraton G is therefore very similar to rubber and can be molded into the shape of a knife handle or its part. This is also its most frequent use. It absorbs shocks very well, the knife does not slip in the hand, does not turn, and thus provides a very secure grip. Kraton G is essentially a synthetic replacement for natural rubber. However, its properties are much better than classic rubber, which also results in a higher price for the final product. This is why the entire handle is often not made from this polymer; instead, its core may be made of much cheaper ABS plastic while Kraton G forms only the surface, a sort of rubber coating to ensure a non-slip grip and better durability. Maintenance is also simple – just water and soap suffice.

Products made from Kraton G polymer also include bicycle handlebar grips and other handles or grips, as well as flexible components for baby diapers, oil gels for telecommunications cables, medical applications, and others.