BUTADIENE

Buta-1,3-diene. Acts as a monomer. It is a highly reactive flammable, colorless gas with a mild aromatic odor. It is soluble in alcohol and ether but insoluble in water. BUTADIENE polymerizes readily, particularly if oxygen is present. Used in the making of synthetic rubber (styrene-butadiene and nitrile butadiene rubbers, to a large extent). The copolymers with high proportions of styrene have found applications such as stiffening resins for rubber, in high impact plastic. Can also be used extensively for various polymerizations for plastics manufacturing. It is suitable to be used as a starting material for nylon 66 (adiponitrile) and an ingredient in rocket fuel (butadiene - acrylonitrile polymer).