Polybutene
Polybutene is a plastic-like polymer made from a mix of 1-butene, 2-butene, and isobutylene. It can also use C4 hydrocarbons produced during ethylene steam cracking to help its production. It’s similar to polyisobutylene (PIB), which mainly comes from pure isobutylene. Using other isomers can make the material react a bit less at the end carbon and can change how molecular weight relates to viscosity.
Common uses include sealants, adhesives, extenders for putties that seal roofs and windows, coatings, polymer modification, tackified polyethylene films, and polybutene emulsions. Hydrogenated polybutenes are widely used in cosmetics such as lipstick and lip gloss. It is also used as an adhesive in bird and squirrel repellents and as the active ingredient in mouse and insect sticky traps.
A key property is that higher-molecular-weight polybutene can break down with heat into lower-molecular-weight polybutenes, which then evaporate and can further form butene monomers that evaporate as well. This clean volatilization is different from mineral oils (which can leave gum and sludge) or some plastics (which melt and spread). This behavior is valuable for many applications.
It can be used to help reduce smoke in two-stroke engine fuels because it can degrade at temperatures below the combustion temperature. For electrical lubricants and heat-prone carriers, polybutene generally does not increase insulation or leave conductive carbon deposits when overheated or on fire.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 14:59 (CET).