Styrene-butadiene copolymer production volume

Acrylonitrile—Butadiene—Styrene. ABS is an important commercial polymer, with numerous apphcations. In the late 1950s, ABS was produced by emulsion grafting of styrene-acrylonitrile copolymers onto polybutadiene latex particles. This method continues to be the basis for a considerable volume of ABS manufacture. More recently, ABS has also been produced by continuous mass and mass-suspension processes (237). The various products may be mechanically blended for optimizing properties and cost. Brittle SAN, toughened by SAN-grafted ethylene—propylene and acrylate mbbets, is used in outdoor apphcations. Flame retardancy of ABS is improved by chlorinated PE and other flame-retarding additives (237). 

Styrene copolymer with divinylbenzene is used frequently in many polystyrene products, and the similarity between the two comonomers makes this copolymer almost identifiable with the homopolymer itself. In terms of production volume, styrene copolymer with butadiene is probably the most important copolymer (SBR). Depending on the butadiene/styrene ratio, the copolymer is used as an elastomer with large applications in the tire industry, in the manufacturing of conveyor belts, etc. when butadiene/styrene ratio is 75/25 parts wt., or when butadiene/styrene ratio is 40/60 parts... 

Lucky Co., Ltd. manufactures polybutyleneterephthalate (PBT) and acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) copolymers. The production volume of PBT is 5 kt/year and that of ABS is 250 kt/year. 

Many random copolymers have found commercial use as elastomers and plastics. For example, SBR (62), poly(butadiene- (9-styrene) [9003-55-8] has become the largest volume synthetic mbber. It can be prepared ia emulsion by use of free-radical initiators, such as K2S20g or Fe /ROOH (eq. 18), or in solution by use of alkyl lithium initiators. Emulsion SBR copolymers are produced under trade names by such companies as American Synthetic Rubber (ASPC), Armtek, B. F. Goodrich (Ameripool), and Goodyear (PHoflex) solution SBR is manufactured by Firestone (Stereon). The total U.S. production of SBR in 1990 was 581,000 t (63). 

More than 800 million pounds of EPM and EPDM polymers were produced in the United States in 2001. Their volume ranks these materials fourth behind styrene-1,3-butadiene copolymers, poly( 1,4-butadiene), and butyl rubber as synthetic rubbers. EPM and EPDM polymers have good chemical resistance, especially toward ozone. They are very cost-effective products since physical properties are retained when blended with large amounts of fillers and oil. Applications include automobile radiator hose, weather stripping, and roofing membrane. 

NOTE Ibtals for plastics are for those products listed and exclude some small-volume plastics. Synthetic rubber data include Canada. Dry-weight basis unless otherwise specified Density 0.940 and below " Data include Canada from 2001 Density above 0.940 Data include Canada from 1995 Data include Canada from 2000 Data include Canada from 1994 Includes styrene-butadiene copolymers and othm styrene-based polymers Unmodified Includes butyl styrene-butadiene rubber latex, nitrile latex, polyisoprene, and miscellaneous others. SOURCES American Plastics Council, International Institute of Synthetic Rubber Producers. 

Block copolymers are polymers constituted of at least two different monomers arranged in a specific manner - they could be diblock, triblock, multi-block, linear, star shaped, etc. Those based on styrene and butadiene, SB or SBS, are the earliest to be applied and studied, as well as the largest as far as the volume of production is concerned (Holden et al. 1967). 

Block copolymers of styrene and butadiene are extensively used in blends as well as neat products. Most of the blends are made with polystyrene resins, where addition of block copolymer improves the toughness of otherwise brittle polystyrene. Such materials find widespread use in food packaging, from yogurt cups to polystyrene film used for food packaging. Some volume of copolymer is also used as an impact modifier in the manufacture of specialty grades HIPS. 

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