Butadiene: Characteristics
Why butadiene cannot be stored for long
What this tab covers The physical and chemical properties that set its grade, price and uses, with the commercial grades and the standards that define them.Commercial value depends on high purity, low inhibitor and low acetylenes, because SBR and BR catalysts are sensitive. Butadiene's tendency to polymerise and form dimers in storage limits how long it can be held.
Properties that matter commercially
| Property | Value / specification | Why it matters | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Purity | at least 99.5% 1,3-butadiene | Polymerisation-grade specification for rubber. | industry standard (indicative) |
| Inhibitor (TBC) | about 50-150 ppm tert-butylcatechol | Prevents polymerisation in transit; removed before use. | industry standard (indicative) |
| Boiling point | -4.4°C | Shipped as pressurised liquid. | standard physical data |
| Dimer formation | 4-vinylcyclohexene forms over weeks in storage | Limits storage time and affects quality. | industry standard |
Commercial grades
- Polymer grade (99.5%+)
- Crude C4 (feed for extraction)
- Bio-butadiene (pilot)