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Liquid SBR
- Product Name: Liquid SBR
- Factroy Site: Yudu County, Ganzhou, Jiangxi, China
- Price Inquiry: sales3@ascent-chem.com
- Manufacturer: Ascent Petrochem Holdings Co., Limited
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- Liquid SBR is a styrene-butadiene copolymer latex in liquid form, commonly used in construction waterproofing, where flexible water-resistant bonding is required.
| HS Code | 624787 |
| Product Name | Liquid SBR |
| Chemical Family | Styrene-butadiene copolymer |
| Appearance | Clear to light yellow viscous liquid |
| Styrene Content | 25% |
| Viscosity At 25c | 5000 mPa·s |
| Molecular Weight Mn | 3500 g/mol |
| Specific Gravity | 0.95 |
| Glass Transition Temperature | -45°C |
| Iodine Value | 250 g I2/100g |
| Acid Value | <1 mg KOH/g |
| Non Volatile Content | 100% |
| Flash Point | >200°C |
| Solubility | Soluble in aromatic hydrocarbons and esters |
As an accredited Liquid SBR factory, we enforce strict quality protocols—every batch undergoes rigorous testing to ensure consistent efficacy and safety standards.
| Packing | Liquid SBR is packaged in 200 kg steel drums or 1000 kg IBC totes, sealed to prevent contamination and moisture. |
| Container Loading (20′ FCL) | Liquid SBR in 20′ FCL: use flexitanks or drums, secure properly, prevent leaks, and ensure compatibility. |
| Shipping | Liquid SBR is shipped in ISO tanks, tank containers, or drums, depending on volume. It requires temperature-controlled transport to maintain viscosity and prevent polymerization. Proper labeling, MSDS documentation, and spill containment are essential. Avoid incompatible materials, and ensure ventilation. Adhere to all hazardous material regulations for safe delivery. |
| Storage | Liquid SBR should be stored in sealed, corrosion-resistant containers to prevent oxidation and moisture ingress. Keep in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area away from direct sunlight, heat sources, and open flames. Maintain temperatures between 5°C and 35°C, and ensure good ventilation to avoid vapor accumulation. Regularly inspect containers for leaks or damage. |
| Shelf Life | Liquid SBR typically has a shelf life of 6–12 months when stored tightly sealed in a cool, dry, shaded area. |
In silica-filled passenger tire tread compounding, liquid styrene-butadiene rubber (LSBR) with number-average molecular weight typically between 3,000 g/mol and 25,000 g/mol and styrene mass fraction between 15% and 25% is introduced as a reactive plasticizer to replace part of the naphthenic or TDAE oil phase. The addition window used on production-scale intermeshing internal mixers ranges from 3 phr to 10 phr, with 5–8 phr most common in low rolling resistance silica-filled formulations; below 3 phr the effect on green compound tack and Mooney viscosity is rarely detectable in 270 L batches, while above 10 phr hardness and DIN abrasion loss begin to drift outside the narrow ranges accepted for passenger car tread. Compliance is evaluated by ISO 37:2017 for tensile stress-strain properties, ISO 289-1:2018 for Mooney viscosity, ISO 4649:2017 for abrasion resistance, and DIN 53516 for cross-checking; raw material registration under REACH (EC 1907/2006) is required for EU compounds, and the finished tread must satisfy UN ECE R30 or applicable national tire certification only after full carcass construction and cure. The process sequence matters: after the first-stage silica reaction reaches 145–155 °C and the silanization reaction liberates ethanol, LSBR is added with the remaining oil and antidegradants in the second pass or during the late first-stage cooling phase; adding it at the beginning of the silica reaction can interfere with silane condensation and produces higher Payne-effect modulus. On a 270 L intermeshing internal mixer with rotor speeds of 35–55 rpm, the LSBR addition typically reduces ram pressure and batch temperature, allowing the dump temperature to be held below 160 °C to avoid premature scorch. Downstream, the compound is extruded as tread profile and assembled with carcass, belt, chafer and sidewall components in a multi-stage tire-building machine; the green tire is then cured in a segmented mold at 150–180 °C for 8–15 min, depending on sidewall thickness and mold size. Terminal products include silica-reinforced passenger car radial treads, wet-grip summer tire caps, retread compounds, and low-emission tread formulations where oil volatility is restricted.
On a 270 L intermeshing internal mixer, the LSBR stream is best metered by gear pump after the silica hydrophobation plateau is reached at 145–155 °C; early addition can generate a slightly higher ethanol concentration in the extraction line and raises the re-agglomeration index in the final compound. Mooney viscosity measured at 100 °C with ML 1+4 under ISO 289-1:2018 generally decreases by 1–5 MU for each 5 phr of LSBR substituted for TDAE oil, but the exact response depends on the solid SBR’s styrene/vinyl content and the filler loading. Tensile testing under ISO 37:2017 and DIN abrasion under ISO 4649:2017 are performed on vulcanized slabs cured at 160 °C for 10 min; published data for this specific substitution in silica-filled tread compounds remain limited to supplier technical bulletins, so the final value of tensile strength and elongation at break should be verified for each solid polymer grade.
Can Liquid SBR Function as a Non-Migrating Diluent in SBS-Based Hot-Melt Pressure-Sensitive Adhesives?
SBS-based hot-melt pressure-sensitive adhesives use liquid SBR as a viscosity modifier and low-migration diluent to displace naphthenic or paraffinic oil without generating a solvent vapor stream. The addition ratio is generally between 10 phr and 25 phr per 100 phr of SBS elastomer, with an upper boundary set by loss of cohesive strength in ASTM D3654/D3654M-06(2019) shear adhesion testing and by reduced loop tack as measured under ASTM D6195-03(2019). From a regulatory standpoint, formulations intended for packaging tapes and label stock are assessed under FDA 21 CFR 175.105 for indirect food contact, while the final adhesive is subject to REACH and, for electronics-adjacent protective films, RoHS Directive 2011/65/EU restrictions on phthalate plasticizers that liquid SBR can replace. Manufacturing uses a jacketed sigma-blade or double-arm mixer at 150–170 °C under nitrogen; oil, tackifier, and antioxidant are melted first, then SBS is added, and LSBR is metered into the molten phase after the SBS has dispersed to reduce shear heating but before the tackifier is fully homogenized. Viscosity is monitored with a Brookfield thermosel viscometer at 177 °C per ASTM D3236-15, and the melt is transferred to a slot-die coater operating at 130–160 °C to deposit 18–40 g/m² coat weight onto biaxially oriented polypropylene or polyester film. Terminal products include heavy-duty carton sealing tape, clear label stock, surface protection films with clean removal requirements, and repulpable splicing tapes for paper mills; published adhesion data for LSBR-containing SBS systems on untreated low-energy substrates remain limited and require application-specific peel testing under ASTM D3330/D3330M-04(2018).
The migration and bleed-out behavior differs from mineral oil because the higher molecular weight of LSBR reduces diffusion in the styrenic block matrix; however, the butadiene midblock compatibility means that excessive addition still softens the styrene domains and lowers the plateau modulus. When LSBR exceeds 25 phr, cohesive failure shifts from adhesive transfer to cohesive splitting, and the ASTM D3654 shear holding time on polished steel drops sharply. For applications requiring clean removal after 1 week or longer on polycarbonate, the LSBR level is normally held below 15 phr to limit visible residue; for permanent carton sealing, the higher end of the range is tolerable because the adhesive film is not required to be removable.
Polymer-modified bitumen produced on a high-shear rotor-stator mixer uses liquid SBR as a low-temperature flexibility modifier and dispersion aid for milled SBS or crumb rubber in road and bridge deck waterproofing compounds. The LSBR addition is typically 2–5 wt% of the bitumen phase, with an upper limit near 5 wt% because the low glass transition temperature benefit plateaus while the viscosity of the hot feed can become difficult to pump; ASTM D36/D36M-14(2020) ring-and-ball softening point and ASTM D6084-18 elastic recovery are used to verify that the material still meets performance grades. The production line involves preheating penetration-grade bitumen in a jacketed tank to 170–185 °C, adding LSBR through a metering pump into the recirculation loop of a rotor-stator mill with tip speeds of 15–25 m/s, and holding the blend under low-shear agitation for 4–8 h to complete swelling and oxidative aging; EN 14023:2010 and ISO 9001:2015 factory process controls govern batch traceability in EU road projects. Terminal products include polymer-modified bitumen for stress-absorbing membrane interlayers, bridge deck waterproofing membranes, high-viscosity spray-applied road binders, and polymer-modified asphalt concrete for heavy-traffic intersections.
Storage stability of PMB containing liquid SBR can be a limitation; if not continuously agitated, styrenic-rich domains may separate in vertical storage tanks at 150–165 °C, which is why terminal transfer should be completed within 12 h or via heated tanker with recirculation.
Liquid SBR as a Co-Vulcanizing Processing Plasticizer in Engine Mount and Bushing Compounds
Compounding of natural rubber/solution SBR blends for hydraulic engine mounts and suspension bushings uses liquid SBR at 3–8 phr as a co-vulcanizing plasticizer that softens the green compound and reduces mill shrinkage, with the upper limit set by compression set measured under ASTM D395-18 method B and by dynamic stiffness shifts in ISO 10846-1:2008 vibration transmissibility tests. Compliance verification includes ISO 37:2017 tensile testing, ISO 48-2:2018 hardness, and fatigue testing with ASTM D5992-96(2018) or the vehicle OEM’s block-cycle specification. Manufacturing is carried out in an internal mixer with intermeshing rotors at 40–60 rpm, dropping at 150–165 °C; after cooling to 70–90 °C, the batch is sheeted, calendered, and then injection molded with a clamp force of 300–500 t and mold temperature 160–175 °C. Terminal products include engine mounts, suspension bushings, anti-vibration isolators for industrial equipment, and rubber-to-metal bonded subframe mounts.
In sulfur donor cure systems, LSBR increases the unsaturation available for crosslinking but can compete with the solid polymer for activator; if the zinc oxide/stearic acid ratio is not adjusted, cure rate scatter increases across production batches. Published data for specific LSBR type in NR/SBR blends remain limited; confirmation on the target injection mold is required because vulcanization kinetics are affected by mold temperature gradient and cavity pressure.
Single-unit molded vulcanized footwear outsoles use liquid SBR at 5–12 phr in SBR/NR compounds to lower compound viscosity before injection or compression molding; compliance is verified with ISO 20345:2021 for safety footwear, ISO 4649:2017 for abrasion, and ASTM D1630-16 for NBS abrasion, while the manufacturing route is internal mixing followed by two-roll sheeting and compression molding at 150–165 °C for 4–8 min, yielding athletic cup soles, safety boot outsoles, and vulcanized leather casual shoe units.
When Liquid SBR Replaces Paraffinic Oil in Butyl-Based Insulating Glass Sealants
Butyl-based insulating glass sealant production uses liquid SBR as a partial replacement for paraffinic oil to reduce moisture vapor transmission and limit plasticizer migration into the desiccant matrix, with addition levels between 5 wt% and 15 wt% of the butyl polymer phase; higher levels raise the sealant’s elastic modulus and reduce the low-temperature extrudability required for automated edge sealing when extrusion is evaluated at 5 °C. Compliance is assessed through ASTM E2190-19 for insulating glass seal durability, EN 1279-4:2018 for gas leakage and moisture penetration, and ASTM C1289-17 for compression/extension cycling where applicable. The process uses a horizontal sigma-blade mixer or kneader at 95–110 °C with sequential addition of butyl rubber, tackifier, carbon black, dried desiccant, and finally LSBR to avoid excessive shear heating; the finished compound is transferred to a heated drum unloader and applied on a dual-seal insulating glass line with hot-applied extruders at 100–120 °C. Terminal products include dual-seal insulating glass units for commercial curtain wall, warm-edge residential windows, and gas-filled high-altitude glazing packages.
The processing boundary for this substitution is cold flow: when LSBR exceeds 15 wt%, the sealant can lose the immediate green tack needed to maintain the primary seal during unit assembly, so the ratio is reduced when line speed exceeds 25 m/min.
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- Liquid SBR is manufactured under an ISO 9001 quality system and complies with relevant regulatory requirements.
- COA, SDS/MSDS, and related certificates are available upon request. For certificate requests or inquiries, contact: sales3@ascent-chem.com.
Liquid SBR (LSBR) is a pourable low-molecular-weight styrene-butadiene copolymer supplied as a reactive plasticizer, co-curing agent, and non-extractable modifier for sulfur- and peroxide-cured elastomer compounds. Commercial model designations typically encode nominal bound styrene mass fraction and target number-average molecular weight; for example, L-SBR 25/2500 denotes a nominal 25 wt% bound styrene content and 2,500 g/mol Mn, whereas L-SBR 40/8000 denotes 40 wt% bound styrene and 8,000 g/mol Mn. Typical commercial LSBR products exhibit Mn from 2,000 to 25,000 g/mol, Brookfield viscosity at 25 °C from 10 Pa·s to 150 Pa·s per ASTM D2196, specific gravity from 0.93 to 0.98 per ASTM D1475, and glass transition temperature from −70 °C to −30 °C per ASTM D3418. The copolymer backbone retains 1,4-cis, 1,4-trans, and 1,2-vinyl unsaturation; the 1,2-vinyl fraction commonly lies between 10 mol% and 70 mol% depending on catalyst and molecular weight. This unsaturation allows covalent incorporation into a vulcanizate network, which distinguishes LSBR from non-reactive petroleum-based process oils.
LSBR is used in applications where mineral oil plasticizers cause volatility, extraction, or surface bloom. Its random styrene distribution produces a solubility parameter intermediate between polybutadiene and polystyrene; this improves compatibility with SBR, SSBR, and NBR but reduces compatibility with fully saturated EPDM and IIR matrices. Low-volatility behaviour is evaluated by volatile content at 105 °C per ISO 248; typical commercial grades exhibit ≤0.5 wt% volatile content.
Liquid SBR is specified by a defined test-method framework
Lot acceptance requires simultaneous control of viscosity, molecular weight distribution, bound styrene, volatile content, and antioxidant loading. Because LSBR is shear-sensitive and oxidatively reactive, sampling for viscosity should follow a fixed thermal history: equilibration at 25 °C for 4 h in a closed container. Molecular weight distribution is preferably controlled with a polydispersity index below 2.5; broader distributions can contain high-molecular-weight fractions that raise viscosity and low-molecular-weight fractions that remain extractable after cure. Microgel content above 0.1 wt% is generally rejected because it can cause surface defects in calendered sheet. The following table summarizes standard release properties for compounding and adhesive grades. Values are not maximum use limits; end-use performance must be established on production-scale mixing equipment.
| Property | Test method | Typical acceptance range or limit |
|---|---|---|
| Appearance | Visual inspection | Clear to slightly hazy amber liquid; free of gel particles > 1 mm |
| Brookfield viscosity at 25 °C | ASTM D2196 | 20–100 Pa·s for standard injection grades |
| Number-average molecular weight Mn | ISO 16014-3 | 2,000–10,000 g/mol |
| Bound styrene | ISO 21561 | 20–30 wt% for tread grades |
| 1,2-Vinyl content | Supplier FTIR method calibrated to reference microstructure | 20–60 mol% |
| Volatile content | ISO 248, 2 h at 105 °C | ≤0.5 wt% |
| Antioxidant content | HPLC internal method | 500–1,500 ppm BHT or equivalent |
| Glass transition temperature | ASTM D3418 | −65 °C to −35 °C for 25 wt% styrene grades |
| Specific gravity at 25 °C | ASTM D1475 | 0.93–0.98 |
What molecular parameters govern liquid SBR performance in vulcanizates?
Three molecular parameters control performance: bound styrene mass fraction, 1,2-vinyl content, and Mn. Bound styrene raises the solubility parameter and improves compatibility with SBR and SSBR matrices but reduces low-temperature flexibility. Each 1 wt% increase in bound styrene typically shifts the glass transition temperature upward by 0.6 °C to 1.0 °C; high-styrene LSBR grades with 40 wt% styrene may show Tg near −42 °C, limiting outdoor cold-impact performance in dynamic rubber articles.
1,2-Vinyl content increases cure reactivity and Tg while reducing chain flexibility. The 1,2-vinyl units provide pendent vinyl groups that participate in both sulfur and peroxide cure; however, excessive 1,2-vinyl content can shorten scorch time. For a constant Mn, an increase from 20 mol% to 60 mol% 1,2-vinyl raises Tg by approximately 4 °C to 8 °C and may reduce tear strength unless the cure system is adjusted.
The low Mn of LSBR creates a high molar concentration of chain ends relative to high-molecular-weight SSBR. In sulfur-cured compounds, this increases the number of elastically inactive chain ends if cure is incomplete. For LSBR loadings above 10 phr, cure recipes should maintain accelerator/sulfur ratios between 0.8 and 1.2 phr CBS per 2.0 phr sulfur to achieve adequate network incorporation. At loadings above 15 phr, tensile strength and modulus may decrease even after co-cure because the oligomer introduces topological defects and reduces entanglement density. Gel-permeation chromatography per ISO 16014-3 should be combined with Brookfield viscosity per ASTM D2196 because viscosity alone cannot detect bimodal distributions or microgel.
In silica-filled tread compounding, LSBR is injected after the silica-incorporation and silanization hold stage to prevent oligomer adsorption on the reactive silica surface before silane coupling. A 1.6 L intermeshing internal mixer operating at 60 rpm typically shows an 8% to 15% reduction in peak power when LSBR replaces an equal mass of TDAE. On a twin-screw extruder with L/D 40, the liquid is metered at 60 °C to 80 °C through a heated gear pump; injection at lower temperatures causes viscosity stratification and poor distributive mixing. Calendering of LSBR-modified friction compounds requires roll temperatures 5 °C to 10 °C lower than TDAE reference compounds to avoid surface tack. These equipment settings are line-specific and require instrumented trials; published data for specific production configurations is limited.
Substitution of TDAE in passenger tire tread formulations
In a silica-filled SSBR/BR tread formulation, LSBR can replace TDAE on a phr-for-phr basis up to 15 phr. Mooney viscosity per ASTM D1646 generally declines by 5 to 15 units for a 10 phr replacement, depending on silica surface area and silane coupling agent. Cure rheometer data per ASTM D5289 show that scorch time ts2 may shorten by 0.2 min to 0.8 min, and maximum torque decreases slightly because the oligomer dilutes the network in the uncured state but partially co-cures.
The tread performance balance changes more favourably when LSBR replaces oil than when liquid polybutadiene is used. Dynamic mechanical analysis per ASTM D5992 typically shows that tan δ at 60 °C moves directionally lower while tan δ at 0 °C remains within 0.01 of the reference. Bound styrene in LSBR helps retain wet traction indicators, whereas low-styrene liquid polybutadiene tends to reduce 0 °C tan δ. Hardness per ASTM D2240 remains stable up to 10 phr; at 15 phr, durometer may decline by 2 to 4 points unless filler loading is increased.
Processing window near the silanization hold is sensitive. For a typical silane-terminated silica compound, the mixer drop temperature should remain between 145 °C and 155 °C; below 145 °C silanization is incomplete, above 155 °C LSBR can begin oxidative thickening. This ±5 °C window is narrower than with TDAE because LSBR contains reactive unsaturation. Therefore, two-step mixing with a controlled second-stage remill at 130 °C to 140 °C is recommended when LSBR loading exceeds 10 phr.
Oil extraction and fogging behaviour differ from TDAE. Thermo-oxidative ageing per ISO 188 or equivalent shows lower surface bloom and lower volatile loss for LSBR-modified compounds because the oligomer is chemically bound. This is confirmed by lower acetone-extractable matter per ISO 1407 after vulcanization; however, residual uncured LSBR can still be extracted if undercure occurs.
For hot-melt pressure-sensitive adhesive systems based on styrene-isoprene-styrene block copolymers, LSBR functions as a compatible reactive diluent and tackifying resin modifier. Addition levels between 5 phr and 20 phr reduce melt viscosity at 180 °C by 20% to 40% and increase room-temperature loop tack when combined with C5 or C9 tackifying resins. The styrene blocks in LSBR associate with the styrene domains of the block copolymer, while the butadiene-rich midblock segments alter the plateau modulus. Rheological data from a cone-and-plate rheometer at 25 °C show that LSBR-modified hot-melt formulations retain Newtonian behaviour up to shear rates of 100 s⁻¹; above this, shear thinning is less pronounced than with low-molecular-weight polyisobutylene plasticizers. Peel adhesion on stainless steel per ASTM D3330 may decrease by 5% to 15% when LSBR exceeds 20 phr because the low-molecular-weight polymer reduces room-temperature storage modulus. Crosslinking with UV photoinitiator or sulfur donor improves cohesive strength at 70 °C and reduces cold flow. Do not combine with amine-functional silanes unless prior jar-gel testing is performed.
When liquid SBR replaces liquid polybutadiene in sulfur-cured NBR seals
In NBR seal compounds, LSBR offers higher hydrocarbon resistance than low-molecular-weight polybutadiene because the styrene units increase polarity and reduce swelling in ASTM oil No. 1 and IRM 903. The replacement also retains sulfur cure reactivity because allylic positions in the butadiene segments remain available for crosslinking. However, LSBR grades with styrene content above 30 wt% can stiffen low-acrylonitrile NBR at low temperature and should be avoided where brittleness temperature must remain below −40 °C per ASTM D2137. Compression set after 70 h at 100 °C per ASTM D395 Method B may be 3 to 6 percentage points higher when LSBR replaces liquid polybutadiene at equal volume because the styrene units reduce chain mobility; this is acceptable for static seals but may be marginal for dynamic sealing applications. The main difference from liquid polybutadiene is compatibility: LSBR is more compatible with NBR and SBR, whereas liquid polybutadiene disperses poorly in high-nitrile matrices. The following matrix summarizes key operational differences.
| Parameter | Liquid SBR | Liquid polybutadiene | TDAE process oil |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cure participation | Co-cures through 1,2-vinyl and internal unsaturation | Co-cures through unsaturation, less polar network contribution | Non-reactive, extractable |
| Compatibility with NBR/SSBR | High | Moderate to low | High |
| Low-temperature impact | Moderate Tg increase | Low Tg benefit | Plasticizer effect; no cure |
| Volatility and migration | Low after cure | Low after cure | Higher migration and bloom |
| Filler dispersion | Improves silica dispersion through low viscosity and polar styrene | Improves dispersion but less polar | Improves dispersion but non-reactive |
| Typical use range | 5–15 phr | 5–10 phr | 5–30 phr depending viscosity |
Storage, inhibitor demand, and regulatory conformity
LSBR is supplied with 500–1,500 ppm of a hindered phenolic antioxidant, typically BHT. Storage in closed containers under nitrogen is recommended; air exposure at temperatures above 40 °C can increase viscosity by oxidative coupling and gel formation. At relative humidity above 60%, dry compounding fillers rather than the LSBR itself are the main moisture-sensitive components, but drum headspace condensation should be prevented. For regulatory compliance, LSBR is listed under EU REACH Regulation EC 1907/2006; US TSCA inventory status is maintained by manufacturers. For automotive interior applications, volatile organic compound testing per VDA 278 or ISO 12219-3 is commonly used; LSBR typically reduces fogging value compared with TDAE, but residual BHT can contribute to VOC emissions. Vulcanized rubber articles intended for repeated food contact may require end-use compliance with FDA 21 CFR 177.2600; migration testing is required for specific food types and temperatures. Avoid contamination with cobalt driers, strong oxidizers, or amine-based cure accelerators that may cause premature gelling or scavenge free-radical cure systems.