Page 54 - Encyclopedia of Chemical Compounds 3 Vols

1,3 BUTADIENE

Interesting Facts

• In 2004, U.S. manufac- 22 among all chemicals
turers produced 2.2 million produced in the United
metric tons (2.4 million States.
short tons) of 1,3-buta-
diene, ranking it number

COMMON USES AND POTENTIAL HAZARDS
Virtually all of the 1,3-butadiene produced is used in the
manufacture of polymers. Polybutadiene itself is too soft for
most industrial rubber uses. So it is sometimes mixed with
other polymers to make products with a variety of desirable
qualities. Or it is polymerized with other monomers to make
specialized copolymers. One of the most popular of the mixed
polymers is polystyrene-polybutadiene. The second polymer
in this mixture, polystyrene, is a polymer of the compound
styrene (C 6 H 5 CH=CH 2 ). Some other uses of 1,3-butadiene
include:
• Raw material in the manufacture of fungicides such as
Captan and Captofol;
• Manufacture of latex adhesives;
• Production of domestic products, such as the backing
on nylon carpet, appliance and electrical equipment,
and luggage;
• Manufacture of industrial products, such as piping and
conduits.
1,3-butadiene has a variety of harmful effects on humans,
including irritation of the respiratory system, fatigue, drow-
siness, headache, vertigo, loss of consciousness, respiratory
paralysis, and death. The compound is also thought to be a
carcinogen. Only people who work directly with the com-
pound, however, are likely to experience such effects, and
only then in unusual situations. The average person is likely
to have no contact with the compound.

CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS 3