Polybutadiene rubber (PBR)

Polybutadiene is a synthetic rubber formed from the polymerization of the monomer 1,3-butadiene. It is the second largest volume synthetic rubber produced, next to styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR), with about a quarter global consumption of synthetic rubber. Polybutadiene has exnt abrasion resistance (good tread wear), low hysteresis loss, high elasticity, and low rolling resistance due to its low glass transition temperature (Tg), typically <−90 °C. However, this also leads to a poor wet traction properties, so, usually, BR is blended with other elastomers like natural rubber or styrene-butadiene rubber for tread compounds.Â