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Polybutylene

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Details

Material hierarchy: Polymer - Thermoplastic - Polyolefin

Polybutylene resins are flexible, linear polyolefins offering a unique combination of properties. They are produced from 1-butene as homopolymers and as copolymers with ethylene.

Polybutylene can be processed on the same equipment used for low-density polyethylene, but it should be noted that after cooling the polymer undergoes a crystalline transformation. During this change, the tensile strength, hardness, specific gravity, and other crystallinity-dependent properties attain their ultimate values. This behavior presents opportunities for post-forming techniques such as the cold forming of sheeting or molded parts. The delay in aging does not pose any unusual processing problems.

Pros	Cons
excellent resistance to creep at room and elevated temperatures no failures after long-term loading at 90% of yield strength good toughness exceptional resistance to environmental stress cracking good moisture barrier properties excellent electrical insulation characteristics resistance to most chemical environments

Common Applications

• Plumbing pipe - The most important commercial application for polybutylene is in plumbing pipe for residential and commercial use. Large-diameter polybutylene pipe is used for transporting abrasive fluids. The material's abrasion resistance also is put to use in sheet form for vessel and chute linings.
• Hot melt adhesives and sealants and carrier resing - Polybutylene is used to make hot melt adhesives and sealants and as a carrier resin for additive and color concentrates. High loadings (up to 80%) can be achieved. The resin also is used as a modifier for other polyolefins; in polypropylene it improves processability, impact, and weld line strength, and in polyethylene it imparts processability and stress crack resistance.