Chemistry Reference
In-Depth Information
BUTADIENE (CH
2
CH-CH
CH
2
)
Properties
Colorless, odorless, flammable gas, boiling point
−
4.7°C (23.5°F). Dimerizes thermally and forms
explosive peroxides on contact with oxygen.
Commercial grades
Inhibited butadiene is shipped as a liquid in tank
trucks, tank cars, and steel cylinders. It is stored cold
to prevent dimerization.
Uses
Its largest uses are for polymeriztion to polybutadiene
and copolymerization with styrene to make synthetic
rubber (SBR) for tires and other rubber uses. Other
uses include the preparation of chloroprene for oil-
resistant rubber (neoprene) and
hexamethylenediamine for the preparation of nylon.
Manufacture
Some of the butadiene produced is recovered from
steam crackers along with ethylene and propylene.
However, most of it is now produced by the
dehydrogenation of butene.
catalyst
=
=
=
+
CH
3
-CH
CH-CH
3
CH
2
CH-CH
CH
2
H
2
Suppliers
Equistar, Texas Petrochemicals, Shell Chemical,
Huntsman, Exxon Chemicals.
Butadiene
is an especially versatile chemical because of its two reactive
double bonds. It has been forecast that future butadiene supplies will be
plentiful at a stable price due to an anticipated abundance of butenes. This
suggests that butenes and butadiene are of major interest in the R&D depart-
ments of many large chemical companies.
