# Polybutadiene rubber: Overview

Tyre sidewalls and the rubber inside tough plastics

Source page: https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/polybutadiene/overview/

What this tab covers What the chemical is, how big its market is, what it is used for (with shares, volumes, why it wins and what could replace it), and its chain from raw material to end user. Ends with three things to remember.

Polybutadiene rubber (BR) is made by polymerising butadiene alone, usually with neodymium, nickel, cobalt or lithium catalysts. High-cis BR is highly elastic and wear-resistant, so it is blended with natural rubber and SBR in tyres. Low-cis lithium BR toughens high-impact polystyrene (HIPS) and ABS. BR takes about a quarter of world butadiene, roughly 3.7 Mt of rubber a year (2025, derived from the butadiene tile). Neodymium catalyst links BR to the rare-earths supply chain, and Shanghai trades BR futures.
 Volume about 3.7 Mt a year (2025, derived: 25% of about 15 Mt butadiene, at about 1.02 t butadiene per t BR) Market value about $6-7 billion (2025, indicative, basis: 3.7 Mt x $1,600-1,900/t) Growth about 2-3% a year (indicative), tracking tyres and HIPS butadiene tile (S&P Global, Sep 2025; use shares); value indicative

#### Key uses

| Use | Share | Annual volume | Why this commodity | Alternatives |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **Tyres (sidewalls, treads, truck tyres)** | 70% | about 2.6 Mtbasis | High-cis BR has very low glass transition (about -100 C), so it gives abrasion resistance, crack resistance and low heat build-up. It is blended with natural rubber in truck tyres and with SBR in car tyres. indicative share, industry estimates | natural rubber SBR |
| **High-impact polystyrene and ABS (impact modifier)** | 20% | about 0.7 Mtbasis | Low-cis lithium BR dissolved in styrene forms rubber particles that stop cracks in HIPS for appliances and packaging, and in mass-process ABS. indicative share | SB block copolymers emulsion polybutadiene latex for ABS |
| **Mechanical goods, belts and footwear** | 7% | about 0.26 Mtbasis | Conveyor belts, shoe soles and rubber rollers use BR for wear resistance. indicative share | SBR natural rubber EVA |
| **Golf ball cores and other** | 3% | about 0.11 Mtbasis | High resilience BR cross-linked with zinc diacrylate gives golf balls their rebound; also used in adhesives and sealants. indicative share | few for golf cores |

 Shares are indicative global splits applied to 3.7 Mt derived from the butadiene tile's 25% BR share.

#### From raw material to user

1. **Butadiene** About 1.02 t butadiene per t BR (indicative); BR takes about 25% of world butadiene (butadiene tile).
2. **Solution polymerisation** In hexane or cyclohexane with a Ziegler-Natta (Nd, Ni, Co, Ti) or lithium catalyst.
3. **Stabilisation and solvent stripping** Antioxidant added; solvent removed by steam stripping and recycled.
4. **Drying and baling** Crumb is dried and pressed into 35 kg bales.
5. **Use** Compounded into tyres or dissolved in styrene for HIPS and mass ABS.

#### Made from (commodity table)
[Oil Crude oil](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/crude_oil/)

#### Three things to know

- BR takes about a quarter of world butadiene, about 3.7 Mt of rubber a year (derived from butadiene tile).
- Neodymium BR, the premium tyre grade, needs a rare-earth catalyst, linking tyres to China's rare-earth supply (indicative).
- Butadiene fell 42% in China between January and November 2025, to CNY7,021/t (GlobalData via Just Auto), pulling BR prices down with it.

#### Read the tabs
[Production route](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/polybutadiene/routes/)[Production](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/polybutadiene/production/)[Feedstocks](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/polybutadiene/feedstocks/)[Cycles](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/polybutadiene/cycles/)[Trading](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/polybutadiene/trading/)[Movement](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/polybutadiene/movement/)[Regulation](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/polybutadiene/regulation/)[Characteristics](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/polybutadiene/characteristics/)[Emissions](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/polybutadiene/emissions/)

## Other sections

- [Summary](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/polybutadiene/index.md)
- [Correlation](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/polybutadiene/correlation/index.md)
- [Production route](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/polybutadiene/routes/index.md)
- [Production](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/polybutadiene/production/index.md)
- [Feedstocks](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/polybutadiene/feedstocks/index.md)
- [Cycles](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/polybutadiene/cycles/index.md)
- [Trading](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/polybutadiene/trading/index.md)
- [Movement](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/polybutadiene/movement/index.md)
- [Regulation](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/polybutadiene/regulation/index.md)
- [Characteristics](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/polybutadiene/characteristics/index.md)
- [Emissions](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/polybutadiene/emissions/index.md)
- [Relationships](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/polybutadiene/links/index.md)