US EPA

646266 

Journal Article 

BD monomer and elastomer production processes 

Lynch, J 

2001 

Yes 

Chemico-Biological Interactions
ISSN: 0009-2797
EISSN: 1872-7786 

135-136 

147-153 

English 

11397387 

10.1016/S0009-2797(01)00187-9 

WOS:000170881000011 

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0009279701001879
Exit
 

The monomer 1,3 butadiene (BD) is a product of the petrochemical industry. It is used to make several elastomers including the very high volume styrene butadiene rubber (SBR) that comprises the bulk of automobile tires. It is also used to make polybutadiene rubber that is used in parts of tires, coatings, composites and other products. The monomer can be converted to chlorobutadiene (chloroprene) and used to make polychloroprene (neoprene). BD is one of the several olefins created by cracking hydrocarbons in the presence of steam. A mixed C4 stream from the steam cracker is then sent to a BD monomer extraction unit. Modern units typically use dimethyl formamide as the extraction solvent. SBR is commonly made by the copolymerization of BD and styrene, along with various additives to control the reaction, in a water emulsion. The reaction proceeds in a continuous chain of reactors until it is ‘shortstopped’ by a strong reducing agent. After removing unreacted monomers from the stabilized latex, it is blended, coagulated and dewatered. The resulting dry rubber crumb is bailed, film wrapped and stored in crates. The polymerization of BD to make polybutadiene rubber can be conducted as a water suspension type polymerization similar to SBR or in a solvent system followed by solvent recovery and transfer into water suspension. 

SBR; Rubber; Processes; Polymers