Meeting the needs of global customers
Shell chemicals companies are the only isoprene producers with production locations in multiple regions, an important factor in meeting the needs of global customers. Unlike many other isoprene producers, Shell chemicals companies are also ethylene producers, affording us better and more consistent access to crude C5s, the feedstock for isoprene production.
In Europe, our production facilities are in the same location as our customers' consuming facilities, minimising both the handling and transport of isoprene.
How is isoprene used?
Isoprene is an important base material for the production of synthetic rubbers. Polyisoprene is used in a wide variety of rubber applications including medical equipment, baby bottle teats/nipples, toys, shoe soles, tyres, and elastic films and threads for golf balls or textiles. It is also used in adhesives and in paints and coatings. Butyl rubber has outstanding impermeability to gases and is used, for example, in inner tubes. Styrene-isoprene-rubber is a copolymer that is used in pressure sensitive adhesives.
An isoprene-based viscosity improver, Shellvis, is sold by Infineum, the Shell-Exxon additives company, while isoprene can also be used in the production of agrochemicals, pharmaceuticals and other fine chemicals.
Link to more information on the chemistry and uses of isoprene
