Butadiene
Description
Butadiene is a flammable, colorless gas with a mild aromatic odor and it is highly reactive. Butadiene is soluble in alcohol and ether, insoluble in water and polymerizes readily, particularly if oxygen is present.
Properties
| Unit | Quantity |
|---|
| Molecular weight | g/mol | 54.088 |
| Density | liquid at 20°C | 0.6211 |
| Freezing point | °C | -108.9 |
| Boiling point | °C | -4.41 |
Specifications
| Unit | Quantity | Test Method PK | ASTM |
|---|
| Purity* | vol % | 99.5 | LBD 002 | D-2593 |
| Propadiene | ppm, wt | 10 | LBD 002 | D-2593 |
| 1,2 Butadiene | ppm, wt | 20 | LBD 002 | D-2593 |
| Total acetylenes | ppm, wt | 20 | LBD 002 | D-2593 |
| Methyl acetylene | ppm, wt | Report | LBD 002 | D-2593 |
| Ethyl acetylene | ppm, wt | Report | LBD 002 | D-2593 |
| Vinyl acetylene | ppm, wt | Report | LBD 002 | D-2593 |
| Butene 1/iso butylenes | - | Report | LBD 002 | D-2593 |
| Cls butene-2 | - | Report | LBD 002 | D-2593 |
| Trans-butene-2 | - | Report | LBD 002 | D-2593 |
| Total C5’s | ppm, wt | 500 | LBD 002 | D-2593 |
| Sulfur (as H25) | ppm, wt | 5 | OLGM 005 | D-4045 |
| Carbonyls (as CH3CHO) | ppm, wt | 10 | LBD 009 | D-4423 |
| Peroxides (as H202) | ppm, wt | 5 | LBD 007 | - |
| TBC (tertiary butyl catgechol) | ppm, wt | 75/150 | LBD 008 | D-1157 |
| Butadiene dimer | ppm, wt | 250 | LBD 003 | D-2426 |
| Total atomic Nitrogen | ppm, wt | 10 | LBD 020 | D-4629 |
| Water | ppm, wt | 300 | LBD 006 | D-1741 |
| Solvency (n-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) | ppm, wt | 5 | LBD 005 | - |
| Oxygen in vapors | vol % | 0.1 | LBD 012 | - |
Notes: *Purity is obtained by subtracting all the hydrocarbon impurities as obtained by ASTM D-2593. Total Atomic Nitrogen: on request only. Water/oxygen in vapor: for export shipment only. ASTM methods referenced are not necessarily identical in all details to those methods used by PETROKEMYA. ASTM references cited are solely for convenience of the user and in no way constitute a guarantee of measurement by the ASTM method as written.
Hazards and safety
Irritant in high concentration. A suspected human carcinogen.
| Unit | Quantity |
|---|
| Explosion limits in air | | 2-11.5% |
| Ignition point | °C | 429 |
| Flash point | °C | -76 |
Applications
One major use of butadiene has been in the making of synthetic rubber (styrene-butadiene and nitrile butadiene rubbers, to a large extent, CIS-polybutadiene is also an extender and substitute for rubber, and polymerizations transpolybutadiene is a type of rubber with unusual properties). Butadiene is also used extensively for various polymerizations for plastics manufacturing. Copolymers with high proportions of styrene have found applications such as stiffening resins for rubber, in water-base and other paints, and in high impact plastic. Butadiene also serves as a starting material for nylon 66 (adiponitrile) and an ingredient in rocket fuel (butadiene - acrylonitrile polymer).
Storage and handling
Contact with oxidizing agent may cause ignition. Steel is recommended for tanks and piping in butadiene service, and it is usually stored under pressure or in insulated tanks at reduced temperature, preferably below 1.6°C (35°F). Goggles, rubber gloves and protective clothing should be worn, and self-contained breathing apparatus should be used.
Packaging
Cryogenic tankers.
UN or ID No. 1010.
Operating companies
Arabian Petrochemical Company (PETROKEMYA).
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