Agriculture

Indopol polybutenes are used in the continuing fight against pests, which threaten agricultural crops. Low viscosity grades are used as pesticide and insecticide carriers where the slight tackiness of the polybutene can increase the effectiveness of the active ingredient. Higher viscosity grades of polybutene find application as adjuvants for improving the rainfastness of water-soluble herbicides and pesticides. Polybutenes are preferred to other carrier oils because they are free from any aromatic hydrocarbons, and have the consistent quality necessary for formulating ultra low volume sprays.

Sticky blends of polybutenes with waxes, resins and/or rubbers are used to physically trap pests such as small insects. For example, yellow cards coated with sticky blends are commonly used to trap insects in greenhouses. When polybutene is mixed with low molecular weight polyethylene, a tacky gel is formed which can be used for tree banding to trap tree climbing pests.