Commercial Production of 1,2-Polybutadiene

Abstract

The technology of the synthesis, properties, and fields of application of high and low-molecular-weight 1,2-polybutadienes are described. The polymerization is performed as a continuous solution process with the use of n-BuLi -diglyme catalytic system. Certain advantages of anionic process over a standard solution polymerization with Ziegler-Natta catalysts are demonstrated. The improvements in the process based on the use of sodium or potassium alkoxides or new organosodium initiators are also described.One of the main practical advantages of anionic polymerization processes is their unique flexibility. They can be adapted relatively easily to various technological schemes; besides, they give a wide possibility for controlling micro and macro structure of polymers (the structure of monomer units, molar masses, MWD, degree of branching, etc.) and, consequently, their properties. These advantages are clearly demonstrated by the experience of the development of the industrial synthesis of 1,2-polybutadiene rubber (1,2-PB) via a solution process.As is well known, polybutadiene of high (50-60%) 1,2-unit content obtained via heterogeneous polymerization with the use of sodium metal was the first type of commercial synthetic rubber (1,2). After World War II it was completely forced out from tire industry by emulsion SBR and stereoregular polymers. However, due to its unique set of properties, 1,2-PB has found many industrial applications for non-tire goods. Nowadays, several types of high-and low-molecular-weight high vinyl polybutadienes are produced via continuous solution polymerization. This process was developed in the middle 1970s in application to already functioning technology of the synthesis of solution czs-l,4-polybutadiene rubber (3).

Trends in polymer chemistry 1998

“…As well as efforts in the industrial scale production of rubber, thermoplastic materials, elastomers and special application products [7] the synthesis of polymers with functional groups was also extended. Nitroaryl-and aminoaryl- [8] as well as monosaccharide-endgroups [9] were attached by termination reactions.…”