1-Butene
The linear C4 olefin that controls LLDPE and HDPE density and branching — and the monomer for polybutene-1 pipe resin.
Chelora Chemicals supplies 1-butene to polyethylene and specialty-polymer producers worldwide, with pressurised handling and full documentation on every consignment.
Product identity
- CAS Number
- 106-98-9
- IUPAC name
- But-1-ene
- Molecular formula
- C₄H₈
- Molecular weight
- 56.11 g/mol
- Boiling point
- -6.3 °C
- Melting point
- -185.3 °C
- UN Number
- UN 1012
- HS Code
- 2901 23
Note: 1-Butene is a liquefied gas at ambient temperature and pressure — it ships and is stored under pressure. Confirm exact classification for your shipment with your regulatory affairs team.
What 1-Butene is used for
1-Butene is a colourless, flammable gas with a mild, petroleum-like odour, handled and shipped as a liquefied gas under pressure. It is the straight-chain, terminal-double-bond isomer of butene, recovered from the C4 fraction of steam cracking or produced on-purpose by the catalytic dimerisation of ethylene.
1-Butene's single largest use is as a comonomer in LLDPE and HDPE production, where small amounts copolymerised with ethylene introduce short-chain branching that controls density, toughness and film clarity — a role it shares with hexene and octene. It is also polymerised on its own into polybutene-1 (PB-1), a specialty resin for hot- and cold-water pressure pipe, and converted to sec-butanol and methyl ethyl ketone (MEK).
Where it sits in the petrochemical value chain
- Ethylene dimerised to 1-butene by on-purpose processes, or recovered as a C4 steam-cracker co-product. See that page.
- 1-Butene (this product) the linear olefin comonomer and PB-1 monomer.
- LLDPE / HDPE / Polybutene-1 downstream polymer chains built on this comonomer. See LLDPE and HDPE.
Handling character
1-Butene is extremely flammable and shipped as a pressurised liquefied gas. Full hazard detail is in the Safety section below.
| Parameter | Typical value |
|---|---|
| Appearance | Colourless liquefied gas |
| Purity | 99.5% min (polymer grade) |
| Isomer purity (vs. isobutylene/cis-/trans-2-butene) | Within producer specification |
| Diene/sulphur content | Within producer specification (ppm level) |
Important: the figures above are indicative of commercial material and are offered for planning only. The batch certificate of analysis is the governing document.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Physical state | Liquefied gas under pressure at ambient temperature |
| Boiling point | -6.3 °C |
| Melting point | -185.3 °C |
| Density (liquid) | 0.595 g/cm³ |
| Water solubility | Slightly soluble (~222 mg/L) |
| Flash point | -80 °C (extremely flammable) |
Physical constants compiled from public reference data for CAS 106-98-9 and rounded for readability. Treat them as orientation, not as a specification.
Where our customers put 1-Butene to work
The comonomer behind LLDPE/HDPE density control and specialty polybutene-1 pipe resin.
LLDPE & HDPE comonomer
Copolymerised with ethylene in small fractions to control density, branching and film toughness.
- Polymer-grade specification
- Pressurised bulk supply
- Technical desk review on request
Polybutene-1 (PB-1) pipe resin
Polymerised alone into PB-1, used for hot- and cold-water pressure pipe and underfloor heating.
- Industrial-grade specification
- Documented batch traceability
- Contract & spot supply
sec-Butanol & MEK
Hydrated to sec-butyl alcohol, a precursor to methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) solvent.
- Full analytical documentation available
- Retained sample held against the lot
Butadiene feedstock
Dehydrogenated to 1,3-butadiene where regional C4 supply favours an on-purpose route.
- Documented batch traceability
- Technical desk review on request
Specialty & fine-chemical use
Feedstock for a range of oxo-alcohol and fine-chemical intermediate syntheses.
- Research & process-scale quantities
- Full documentation supplied
Contract & scheduled supply
Polymer plants running continuous consumption are supported with scheduled bulk delivery.
- Annual contracts with scheduled call-off
- Price held across the contract period
- Second source held in reserve
How we supply 1-Butene
Chelora Chemicals is a supplier and sourcing partner, not a manufacturer. Isomer purity and pressurised handling make producer selection and logistics control critical — that shapes how we manage this line.
We place your order with whichever qualified producer best matches your required grade, your price point and your delivery window, and confirm your jurisdiction's import requirements before booking.
We keep a second qualified source on this line, so a single-plant disruption never becomes your production problem.
- Isomer purity confirmed before we quote. Consistency matters to downstream LLDPE, HDPE and PB-1 polymerisation.
- UN 1012 documentation managed end to end. Classification, pressurised packaging approval and carrier compliance confirmed before booking.
- Scheduled call-off scheduling. We hold contracted tonnage and release it against your consumption calendar.
- Batch traceability to the producing plant. Full chain of custody documentation on request.
- Export machinery handled in-house. Classification, approved pressurised packaging, labelling, freight booking and customs paperwork are ours to manage.
- Polymer-grade material sourced to your process. Matched precisely to your comonomer or PB-1 specification.
Shipped under pressure, handled with care
Pressurised cylinder, ISO tank or rail tanker — tell us your preferred format and we will quote and classify to it.
Pressurised cylinders
Steel pressure cylinders for small-volume orders and trial quantities.
Pressurised ISO tank shipment
ISO tank containers rated for liquefied-gas transport, for continuous-consumption plants.
Bulk tanker delivery
Pressurised rail cars or road tankers for large-volume domestic and regional delivery.
Incoterms to suit you
Quoted on the Incoterm your purchasing team works to, with documentation filed before booking.
Trial / sample quantities
Small pressurised packs dispatched for process trials before a commercial order is placed.
Contracted call-off supply
We hold contracted tonnage and release it against your consumption calendar.
Extremely flammable — handle accordingly
1-Butene is an extremely flammable gas, handled under pressure, with a wide flammability range in air. The summary below is orientation only — the safety data sheet supplied with your specific batch is the authoritative document.
Classified hazards
H220Extremely flammable gas.H280Contains gas under pressure; may explode if heated.
Closed-system handling only. 1-Butene must be handled in sealed, vented systems with continuous gas detection and elimination of ignition sources; always read the SDS issued with your specific batch.
Storage
Store in pressurised vessels in a well-ventilated, bunded area away from ignition sources, oxidisers and incompatible materials, with continuous leak detection.
Handling
Handle only in closed systems with appropriate gas detection and forced ventilation; avoid any inhalation and eliminate ignition sources from the handling area.
Transport
Shipped as UN 1012 (Butylene), an extremely flammable liquefied gas. We confirm and document exact classification, approved pressure vessels and routing for your specific shipment and destination.
Every batch, documented
We verify documentation before dispatch so there are no surprises at your incoming-goods bench.
Specification agreed
Purity, isomer content and trace diene/sulphur levels confirmed against your process requirement before order placement.
Producer batch testing
The producing plant tests each batch against the agreed specification before release.
Documentation review
COA, SDS and pressurised-transport paperwork checked by our desk before the shipment is booked.
Traceable dispatch
Each shipment is traceable to its producing batch, with full chain-of-custody records on request.
How 1-Butene is made
1-Butene is recovered industrially from the mixed C4 stream produced by ethylene steam cracking, separated from the branched and internal butene isomers by superfractionation, and also produced on-purpose by the selective catalytic dimerisation of ethylene where polymer-grade comonomer demand requires a dedicated source.
We do not publish operating process parameters here; this is background only. Full technical documentation accompanies every shipment, and any process-specific detail you need is best confirmed directly with our technical desk.
| Chemical family | Linear terminal olefin (alpha-olefin) |
|---|---|
| Functional groups | Terminal carbon-carbon double bond |
| Reactivity | Copolymerisation with ethylene; cationic/Ziegler-Natta homopolymerisation; hydration |
| Related compounds | Ethylene (feedstock), Isobutylene (C4 co-product), LLDPE, HDPE, Polybutene-1 (downstream) |
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1-Butene, answered
What is 1-Butene used for?
How is 1-Butene made?
Is 1-Butene hazardous?
What grade do you supply?
What packing do you offer?
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