Butadieeni

Butadieeni (Finnish for 1,3-butadiene) is an organic compound with the formula C4H6. It is the simplest conjugated diene, consisting of four carbon atoms with two adjacent double bonds (CH2=CH-CH=CH2). At room temperature it is a colorless gas with a weak, sweet odor and is highly flammable. It is reactive and readily undergoes addition reactions, making it a central industrial monomer.

Industrial production is mainly by catalytic dehydrogenation of butanes or butenes derived from refinery streams, followed by separation and purification to remove impurities and to isolate the butadiene. It is often obtained alongside other C4 streams in steam cracking processes and then purified for use as a chemical feedstock.

The primary use of butadiene is as a monomer in the production of synthetic rubbers and elastomers. Polybutadiene and copolymers such as styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) are key materials in tires and numerous plastics applications. Beyond rubbers, butadiene is employed in resins, coatings, adhesives, and certain impact-resistant plastics. Polymerization can proceed via radical, anionic, or coordination mechanisms, yielding polymers with varying microstructures. In particular, 1,4-addition can produce cis- and trans-1,4 configurations, while 1,2-addition introduces vinyl side groups; the resulting microstructure influences elasticity, glass transition temperature, and processability.

Safety and regulation: 1,3-butadiene is classified by IARC as a Group 1 carcinogen, and exposure is tightly controlled in occupational settings. It is a flammable gas that can form explosive mixtures with air, and storage often uses inhibitors to prevent unwanted spontaneous polymerization.