[News & Trends]:Polybutylene and Polyisobutylene: Understanding Different Plastic Materials

Polybutene and polyisobutylene are two common polymer plastic materials, and they have some differences in chemical structure, which has a significant impact on their physical and chemical properties


Polybutene, also known as polypropylene, belongs to the olefinic plastic category. The repeating unit in its chemical structure is propylene C3H6, hence it is also known as polypropylene. Polybutene has excellent physical properties, such as high wear resistance, high strength, high melting point, and hot deformation temperature. Due to these characteristics, polybutene is often used to manufacture various containers, food packaging, medical devices, and automotive components. In addition, polybutene also has good corrosion resistance, electrical insulation, and low water absorption, making it widely used in various fields


Polyisobutylene is a plastic material formed by the repeated unit polymerization of isoprene C5H8. Polyisobutylene has higher tear resistance, low temperature resistance, rubber elasticity, and processability compared to polybutene. Due to these characteristics, polyisobutylene is commonly used in the manufacturing of various rubber products, such as seals, pipelines, shock pads, etc. In addition, polyisobutylene also has good chemical corrosion resistance and solvent resistance, making it widely used in the chemical industry and pharmaceutical packaging industry


From a physical property perspective, there are differences in melting point and hot deformation temperature between polybutene and polyisobutene. Polybutene has a higher melting point and hot deformation temperature, reaching 130-171 degrees Celsius, while polyisobutylene has a lower melting point and hot deformation temperature, generally between 60-70 degrees Celsius. This makes polybutene exhibit better stability and durability in high-temperature environments, while polyisobutylene is suitable for use in low-temperature environments


From an application perspective, polybutene and polyisobutylene have a wide range of applications in different fields. Polybutene is often used to manufacture various daily necessities and industrial products, and is widely used in food packaging, medical devices, building materials, and automotive components. Polyisobutylene is mainly used to manufacture rubber products, such as industrial seals, automotive components, oil pipelines, etc


In summary, polybutene and polyisobutylene are two different plastic materials with their unique physical and chemical properties, suitable for different application fields. Understanding their differences and characteristics helps us choose suitable materials and utilize their advantages to meet the needs of different fields.