RESINS, RUBBER & FUELS
C5 Monomers and Intermediates for Resins, Rubber and Fuels
DCPD, isoamylene and cyclopentene for unsaturated polyester and hydrocarbon resins, EPDM and cyclic olefin polymers, tert-amylphenols, and fuel ethers and additives. Specifications are listed per product, and DCPD figures are typical batch results rather than guaranteed minimums.
APPLICATIONS
Where It Is Used
Unsaturated polyester resins and curing agents
DCPD-modified unsaturated polyester resin is used for large fiberglass-reinforced parts, with better heat resistance and lower shrinkage than conventional UPR. DCPD is also a raw material for epoxy curing agents, and DCPD novolac epoxy systems are used in low-loss laminates. Hydrogenated DCPD hydrocarbon resins are tackifiers for hot-melt adhesives.
EPDM and specialty rubber
DCPD is a termonomer in EPDM and the source of the cyclopentadiene from which ethylidene norbornene is made. Cyclopentene is the monomer for polypentenamer, which recent studies depolymerize back to cyclopentene.
Fuels, fuel ethers and additives
Isoamylene is a feedstock for diesel additives and high-energy fuels and is etherified with methanol to TAME. DCPD is hydrogenated to tetrahydrodicyclopentadiene, a component of JP-10 high-energy jet fuel.
Organometallic and specialty intermediates
DCPD cracks above 150 °C to cyclopentadiene for metallocenes, gives norbornene for cyclic olefin copolymers and, in ultrapure grades, poly-DCPD by metathesis polymerization. Isoamylene alkylates phenol to tert-amylphenols (the UV absorber UV-328, made from di-tert-pentylphenol, was added to the Stockholm Convention in 2023), and cyclopentene gives cyclopentene oxide and cyclopentylphenol.
INDUSTRY CHALLENGES
Challenges You Face
1
DCPD figures are typical, not guaranteed: a typical batch shows DCPD 98.58%, cyclopentadiene 0.04% and methylcyclopentadiene dimer 0.43%, so agree the limits your process needs, such as a peroxide limit or a specific inhibitor, before ordering
2
Isoamylene is specified tightly: isopentenes ≥99.3% with 2-methyl-2-butene ≥90%, color ≤30 APHA, and methanol, dimethyl ether and water each ≤0.02%; the isomers differ in reactivity and UN entry (UN 2460 for 2-methyl-2-butene), so a process that is sensitive to the isomer ratio states the composition it needs in the enquiry
3
Handling: DCPD arrives as colorless crystals that need controlled, gentle heating (cracking becomes appreciable above about 150 °C)
GRADES & SUPPLY
Grades, Limits and Packaging
Key values from each product's specification. See the product pages for the full tables; technical data and SDS on request.
| Product | Grade | Key limits | Packaging |
|---|---|---|---|
| DCPD (Dicyclopentadiene) | Typical batch result: DCPD 98.58% (not a guaranteed minimum) | cyclopentadiene 0.04%; methylcyclopentadiene dimer 0.43%; colorless crystals | 193 kg iron drum or ISO tank |
| Isoamylene (2-Methyl-2-butene) | Isopentenes ≥99.3%; 2-methyl-2-butene ≥90% | color ≤30 APHA; methanol, dimethyl ether and water ≤0.02% each | ISO tank |
| Cyclopentene | Cyclopentene ≥99.0% | cyclopentadiene ≤0.1%; sulfur ≤1 µg/mL | 150 kg lacquered iron drum or ISO tank |
OUR SOLUTIONS
How We Help
DCPD in 193 kg iron drums or ISO tanks, isoamylene in ISO tanks
Cyclopentene ≥99.0% in 150 kg lacquered iron drums or ISO tanks
Technical data and SDS on request; samples available for qualification testing
PRODUCTS
Products for This Industry
Get a Quote for Resin, Rubber and Fuel Intermediates
Send us the product, grade, quantity and destination. Technical data and SDS are available on request, and samples are available for qualification testing.