Polybutadiene Rubber
The polybutadiene diene rubber supplied by Chelora Chemicals — known in the trade as BR, prized for its low rolling resistance and excellent resilience in tyre and golf-ball-core compounding — exported from Indonesia in bale form with full batch documentation on every shipment.
What Polybutadiene Rubber is, and why buyers source it
A working overview of the polymer's chemistry, its role as a low-rolling-resistance diene rubber, and the grade Chelora Chemicals keeps in regular supply.
Polybutadiene Rubber is a homopolymer of 1,3-butadiene, built almost entirely by solution polymerisation using a coordination catalyst, typically neodymium- or cobalt-based, that controls the microstructure to give a predominantly cis-1,4 double-bond arrangement along the chain. That high-cis microstructure is what gives polybutadiene its unusually high resilience and low heat build-up under repeated flexing.
At room temperature it is a light tan to amber solid, supplied in compressed bales and stabilised with antioxidants to prevent oxidative degradation during storage and shipping. Like SBR it is a finished elastomer rather than a reactive liquid monomer, and is compounded, vulcanised and processed using standard rubber-industry mixing, calendering and curing equipment.
Where it fits in the synthesis chain
Polybutadiene's largest use is as a blend component in tyre tread and sidewall compounds, where its low rolling resistance improves fuel efficiency and its high resilience improves tread life, almost always blended with SBR and/or natural rubber rather than used alone. Its exceptional resilience also makes it the standard core material for golf balls, and it is used in impact-modified polystyrene (HIPS) and other impact-modified engineering plastics.
Grade we supply
Chelora Chemicals offers high-cis (≥90% cis-1,4), solution-polymerised Polybutadiene Rubber in standard bale form suitable for tyre compounding, golf-ball-core and impact-modifier applications, supplied with a batch-wise certificate of analysis.
How Polybutadiene Rubber is made
An overview of the production route for orientation purposes. Our manufacturing partners' own process parameters and in-process controls are proprietary and are not disclosed beyond what is needed to interpret the certificate of analysis.
Polybutadiene Rubber is manufactured by solution polymerisation of 1,3-butadiene monomer in an inert hydrocarbon solvent, using a coordination catalyst — commonly neodymium, cobalt, nickel or lithium-based — that controls the ratio of cis-1,4, trans-1,4 and 1,2 (vinyl) double-bond arrangements along the chain. The polymer is then recovered from solution, stripped of solvent, and dried into bale form.
Why solution polymerisation with a stereospecific catalyst is the standard process
Only solution polymerisation with a carefully chosen coordination catalyst gives the fine control over cis-1,4 content that high-performance polybutadiene grades require, which is why it has been the dominant commercial process since high-cis polybutadiene was first commercialised and remains essentially the only route used for premium tyre-grade material today.
Industries and processes that use it
Polybutadiene Rubber is consumed across tyre, sporting-goods and impact-modified plastics manufacture, where its resilience and low rolling resistance are the main draw. The fields below account for most of the demand we see through our export desk.
Tyre Tread & Sidewall Compounds
Blended with SBR and natural rubber in tyre tread and sidewall compounds to lower rolling resistance and improve tread wear life.
Golf Ball Cores
The standard core material for two- and multi-piece golf balls, chosen specifically for its exceptional resilience and energy-return properties.
Impact-Modified Plastics (HIPS, ABS)
Used as the rubber phase in high-impact polystyrene and related impact-modified engineering plastics, improving toughness and impact resistance.
Conveyor Belting & Mechanical Goods
Compounded into conveyor belting, seals and other mechanical rubber goods where low heat build-up under repeated flexing is valued.
How the molecule is typically carried forward
The stereoregular cis-1,4 backbone and its uniform residual unsaturation govern almost all of this material's further processing chemistry. Reaction classes below account for most of the ways Polybutadiene Rubber is converted into a finished product.
Stereospecific Coordination Polymerisation
1,3-butadiene polymerises in solution under a coordination catalyst that controls the cis-1,4/trans-1,4/vinyl ratio, building the stereoregular polybutadiene chain.
Compounding
The raw rubber is mixed with carbon black or silica filler, oils, and curing-system chemicals on a mill or internal mixer to prepare the finished rubber compound.
Vulcanisation (Sulfur Curing)
The compounded rubber is heated with sulfur and accelerators, cross-linking the chains through the residual double bonds to give the finished, elastic vulcanised rubber.
Solvent Stripping & Drying
The polymer solution is stripped of solvent and dried into the bale form supplied to rubber-goods and plastics manufacturers.
Polybutadiene Rubber against other amines we supply
Buyers sourcing Polybutadiene Rubber for tyre, sporting-goods or impact-modified plastics manufacture often need a related synthetic rubber or the upstream monomer. A quick reference to what else is on our regular supply list.
| Product | CAS Number | Category | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Polybutadiene Rubber | 9003-17-2 | High-cis polybutadiene diene rubber | The product on this page — the low-rolling-resistance tyre and golf-ball-core rubber. |
| Styrene-Butadiene (SBR) | 9003-55-8 | Styrene-butadiene copolymer rubber | The related copolymer rubber most commonly blended with polybutadiene in tyre compounds — see its product page. |
| Styrene Monomer | 100-42-5 | Vinyl aromatic monomer | Used alongside polybutadiene in high-impact polystyrene (HIPS) manufacture — see its product page. |
| Acrylonitrile | 107-13-1 | Vinyl nitrile monomer | Copolymerised with butadiene in the related nitrile (NBR) rubber family — see its product page. |
Exact physical constants and purity specifications are confirmed per batch on the certificate of analysis — treat the notes above as a sourcing guide, not a specification sheet, for products other than Polybutadiene Rubber.
Safety classification at a glance
Based on GHS classification as commonly listed for this substance. This is a summary for orientation only — always work from the current safety data sheet supplied with your specific batch.
Not classified as flammable in bale form, but will burn if exposed to sustained open flame or high heat.
Low ppm residual polymerisation solvent may be present; handle with standard industrial hygiene.
Grinding or buffing operations can generate combustible rubber dust; control with standard dust-collection practice.
The finished bale rubber itself presents low acute hazard under normal handling and storage.
Standard industrial gloves and good general ventilation are sufficient for routine bale handling.
Store away from open flame and high-heat sources; large stockpiles should follow standard warehouse fire-protection practice.
Keep bales dry and out of direct, prolonged sunlight to minimise surface oxidation and tack.
Low Hazard — no GHS pictogram is required for the finished bale rubber under normal use.
The finished bale rubber presents a low acute hazard under normal handling, storage and processing, though it will burn if exposed to sustained open flame or high heat, and dust from grinding or buffing operations should be controlled with standard dust-collection practice. It must still be handled with standard industrial gloves, kept dry and away from direct, prolonged sunlight and open flame. Full handling, storage and compounding guidance is in the MSDS issued with every shipment, and should be read in full before processing begins.
Keeping it on spec between delivery and use
General storage guidance for this grade. Site-specific storage rules, segregation requirements and re-test intervals should follow your own EHS procedures and the MSDS issued with your batch.
Store in a cool, dry warehouse out of direct sunlight, stacked within the recommended bale-height limits, and away from open flame and prolonged ozone or UV exposure, both of which can degrade the rubber surface over time. Polythene-wrapped bales protect against dust and moisture pickup during storage and transport. If a batch is held past its recommended shelf life, re-check Mooney viscosity and cis-1,4 content before use in compounding.
How it ships from Indonesia
Standard packing and export terms for this product. Confirm exact figures against your order — they vary slightly by destination and quantity.
What travels with every batch
Specification is agreed before the purchase order, not discovered on arrival. Every shipment of Polybutadiene Rubber leaves with a documented, checkable paper trail.
Certificate of Analysis
Batch-wise assay (by titration/GC), colour and relevant physical constants, issued against the agreed specification so your QC team can check it, not just file it.
Safety Data Sheet
GHS-format SDS in English covering hazard classification, handling, storage, first-aid and spill response for the exact grade of Polybutadiene Rubber shipped.
Technical Data Sheet
Reference physical and chemical properties, recommended storage and typical applications, for internal circulation to your process or R&D teams.
Certificate of Origin
Confirms Indonesian origin for customs clearance and any preferential-duty claim at your destination port.
Dangerous Goods Declaration
UN packing group, classification and shipper's declaration prepared ahead of loading so documentation never holds up customs.
Third-Party Inspection
Independent pre-shipment inspection and re-sampling can be arranged on request, at your cost, for buyers who require it as a matter of policy.
Frequently asked questions
What buyers most often ask our sales desk about this grade.
01What is Polybutadiene Rubber used for?+
02What is the CAS number of Polybutadiene Rubber?+
03How is Polybutadiene Rubber made?+
04What grade does Chelora Chemicals supply?+
05Why is high cis-1,4 content so valued in Polybutadiene Rubber?+
06Is Polybutadiene Rubber hazardous?+
07What packing options are available?+
08How long does delivery take?+
09Can I get a sample before placing a bulk order?+
10Do you supply Styrene-Butadiene Rubber as well?+
Need Polybutadiene Rubber on spec, on time?
Send us your required purity, quantity, packing preference and destination port. Our desk quotes most enquiries within one working day.