Polymer modification

The impact strength, flexibility, and melt flow rate of many thermoplastic resins can be increased with Indopol® polybutenes. Polybutenes plasticize polypropylene, polystyrene, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer resins, ester gums, and polyterpene.

In crystal polystyrene, polybutenes improve melt flow better than mineral oil while maintaining higher strength and heat deflection temperature. The environmental stress crack resistance (ESCR) of high impact polystyrene (HIPS) to fats and oils can be improved by addition of polybutene. Since most Indopol grades have food contact approval, this is particularly advantageous for applications of HIPS in food packaging and serving containers.

Polypropylene random and impact copolymers modified with polybutenes can increase melt flow rates and elongation and improve impact strength. In filled and reinforced polypropylene, polybutene can be used to "wet” the fillers and aid processing. In polypropylene homopolymer film applications, polybutene can improve tear resistance, flexibility, clarity and gloss properties. Incorporation of polybutenes can improve tear strength by 100%.

Polybutenes can significantly increase the izod impact strength of acrylonitrile-butadiene-sytrene (ABS) resins, while maintaining heat deflection temperature and increasing melt flow rate. Polybutenes have also been used in ethylene-propylene diene monomer (EPDM)/polypropylene compounds to increase impact strength. These materials are useful as roofing compounds.

Rubber modification

Indopol polybutenes are used as extenders and plasticizers for a variety of vulcanized elastomers including natural rubber, butyl rubber, polyisoprene, polybutadiene, ethylene-alpha olefin rubber and styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR). Unlike mineral oil, polybutenes cannot be easily extracted from vulcanized elastomers by solvents, and are resistant to exudation by heat ageing. Hence polybutenes impart their properties permanently to the rubber.

Roofing and pipe wrap compounds made from butyl rubber or EPDM modified butyl rubber can be plasticized with Indopol polybutenes. These compounds show excellent tensile strength, elongation, low temperature flexibility and color/UV stability.

In addition, polybutenes are compatible with the elastomeric portion of thermoplastic block copolymers such as butylene-ethylene-styrene block copolymer. In low concentrations, polybutenes soften and plasticize such elastomers. At higher levels, polybutenes contribute tack and adhesion.

Asphalt modification

The incorporation of polybutenes into asphalt improves weathering, flexibility and adhesion in a number of uses such as roofing compounds, coatings for multi-wall bags, and adhesives. Asphalts modified with polybutene can also be used in road construction to give improved low temperature flexibility and better aggregate/binder adhesion.

Automotive undercoatings that deaden sound and protect against corrosion are sometimes based on asphaltic compounds. The addition of Indopol H-100 can improve low temperature flexibility and adhesion.

Asphalt emulsions with TPE rubber latex can be plasticized with polybutene emulsions. These materials are quick drying and have good cold crack resistance.