Chemical Properties
solid or viscous liquid, depending upon the degree of polymerisation
Usage
Molded or extruded into toys, packaging, appliances, communication cassettes, dinnerware and serviceware.
Uses
Molded or extruded into toys, packaging, appliances, communication cassettes, dinnerware and serviceware.
Definition
ChEBI: Styrene-butadiene copolymer is a polymer.
Production Methods
SBR is prepared mainly by emulsion and solution polymerization
in a free-radical process with a mercaptan, such as
dodecylmercaptan, which is used as a chain-transfer agent
to control molecular weight. In the emulsion process, a soapstabilized
water emulsion of styrene and butadiene is polymerized in continuous reactors to form SBR elastomer.
“Cold” SBR is produced at a temperature of 5–10°C, and
“hot” SBR at about 50°C . Solution SBR is typically
made in hydrocarbon solution with an n-butyllithium initiator.
The major differences between emulsion and solution
styrene–butadiene are in the linearity and molecular-weight
distribution of the polymer chains. In nonpolar solvents, the
tendency is to produce block copolymer, but random copolymers
are formed in polar solvents. SBR can be vulcanized
similar to natural rubber but generally requires less sulfur and
is more accelerated because of its lowunsaturation.
Hazard
Questionable carcinogen.
Health Hazard
Styrene Butadiene Rubber is prepared in large quantities for tire treads and other, similar uses. The properties, molecular weight, and percentage of monomer can all be controlled in the polymerization process. Hazards of the SBR industry have been identified and related mostly to the monomers and additives. Contact dermatitis and leukemia have been associated with solvent and additive use but not with the actual polymer itself (Checkoway et al., 1984; Kilpikari, 1982). Epidemiological studies in the industry have not revealed a significant increase in disease or causes of death (Matanoski and Schwartz, 1987; Meinhardt et al., 1982). The hazards of the butadiene and styrene monomers were discussed previously.
Solubility in organics
Chloroform, dichloromethane, hexane, MEK, toluene
Toxics Screening Level
Due to a lack of available toxicity data, the ITSL for Styrene-butadiene polymer is being set at 0.1 μg/m3 with annual averaging.
