Ky. 160,000 Bayer, Orange, Tex. 120,000 Goodyear, Beaumont, Tex.
Commercial production is by solution polymerization of butadiene monomer.
Bayer's Orange plant was expanded by 35,000 tons and its Sarnia capacity by 12,000 tons in 1996. An incremental expansion at Goodyear's Beaumont plant raised capacity by about 10 percent in 1966. Market estimates say that impact modifier use could account for as much as 25 percent of the end use pattern by the turn of the century. BR exports remain strong, although much of the volume may be going to producers' overseas affiliates. A spike in natural rubber prices, beginning in 1994-1995, resulted in some increased BR demand and although prices have since turned down, a switch from BR back to natural rubber is not expected in the next few years.