Isobutane

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Isobutane

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C₄H₁₀

Isobutane

Physical Properties

Under solid (grey), liquid (blue) and vapor states (white) along the equilibrium curves

General properties
Solid phase
Liquid Phase
Gas Phase

(P)

log(P)

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Molecular weight

58.122
g/mol
Content in dry air

/

Critical Point

Temperature

134.65
°C
274.37 °F 407.8 K
Pressure

36.4
bar
3.64E6 pa 527.9372 lbf/in2 35.924 Atm 3640 Kpa 2.7302E4 mmHg
Density

224.41
kg/m³
14.0094 lb/ft³

Triple Point

Temperature

- 159.42
°C
- 254.956 °F 113.73 K
Pressure

1.206E-7
bar
1.206E-2 pa 1.7492E-6 lbf/in2 1.1902E-7 Atm 1.206E-5 Kpa 9.0458E-5 mmHg

Pressure 1.013 bar

Melting point

- 159.61
°C
- 255.298 °F 113.54 K
Latent heat of fusion (at melting point)

78.112
kJ/kg
33.6047 Btu/lb 18.6692 kcal/kg
Solid density

/

Pressure 1.013 bar

Liquid density (at boiling point)

593.821
kg/m³
37.0709 lb/ft³
Boiling point

- 11.75
°C
10.85 °F 261.4 K
Latent heat of vaporization (at boiling point)

365.101
kJ/kg
157.0705 Btu/lb 87.2612 kcal/kg

Pressure1.013barTemperature

Compressibility factor Z

9.6446E-1

9.7035E-1

9.7354E-1
Cp/Cv ratio γ

1.1185

1.11

1.1052
Dynamic viscosity

6.8759E-5
Po
6.8759 µPa.s 6.8759E-6 PA.S 4.6204E-6 lb/ft/s

7.2505E-5
Po
7.2505 µPa.s 7.2505E-6 PA.S 4.8721E-6 lb/ft/s

7.4978E-5
Po
7.4978 µPa.s 7.4978E-6 PA.S 5.0383E-6 lb/ft/s
Gas density at boiling point

2.826
kg/m³
1.7642E-1 lb/ft³

2.826
kg/m³
1.7642E-1 lb/ft³

2.826
kg/m³
1.7642E-1 lb/ft³
Gas density

2.688
kg/m³
1.6781E-1 lb/ft³

2.5326
kg/m³
1.581E-1 lb/ft³

2.4397
kg/m³
1.5231E-1 lb/ft³
Heat capacity at constant pressure Cp

1.5902
kJ/(kg.K)
3.8007E-1 BTU/lb∙°F 1590.2 J/kg∙K 3.8007E-1 kcal/kg∙K

1.6503
kJ/(kg.K)
3.9443E-1 BTU/lb∙°F 1650.3 J/kg∙K 3.9443E-1 kcal/kg∙K

1.6923
kJ/(kg.K)
4.0447E-1 BTU/lb∙°F 1692.3 J/kg∙K 4.0447E-1 kcal/kg∙K
Heat capacity at constant volume Cv

1.4218
kJ/(kg.K)
3.3982E-1 BTU/lb∙°F 1421.8 J/kg∙K 3.3982E-1 kcal/kg∙K

1.4867
kJ/(kg.K)
3.5533E-1 BTU/lb∙°F 1486.7 J/kg∙K 3.5533E-1 kcal/kg∙K

1.5312
kJ/(kg.K)
3.6597E-1 BTU/lb∙°F 1531.2 J/kg∙K 3.6597E-1 kcal/kg∙K
Liquid (at boiling point)/gas equivalent

220.92
mol/mol

234.47
mol/mol

243.4
mol/mol
Solubility in water

/

2.333E-5
mol/mol

4.659E-5
mol/mol
Specific gravity

/

/

/
Specific volume

3.72E-1
m³/kg
5.9589 ft³/lb

3.949E-1
m³/kg
6.3257 ft³/lb

4.099E-1
m³/kg
6.566 ft³/lb
Thermal conductivity

14.343
mW/m∙K
8.2928E-3 Btu/ft/h/°F 1.2341E-1 cal/hour∙cm∙°C 3.4281E-5 cal/s∙cm∙°C 1.4343E-2 W/(m∙K)

15.85
mW/m∙K
9.1641E-3 Btu/ft/h/°F 1.3638E-1 cal/hour∙cm∙°C 3.7882E-5 cal/s∙cm∙°C 1.585E-2 W/(m∙K)

16.887
mW/m∙K
9.7636E-3 Btu/ft/h/°F 1.453E-1 cal/hour∙cm∙°C 4.0361E-5 cal/s∙cm∙°C 1.6887E-2 W/(m∙K)
Vapor pressure

1.577
bar
1.577E5 pa 22.8724 lbf/in2 1.5564 Atm 157.7 Kpa 1182.8505 mmHg

2.598
bar
2.598E5 pa 37.6808 lbf/in2 2.564 Atm 259.8 Kpa 1948.6656 mmHg

3.512
bar
3.512E5 pa 50.9372 lbf/in2 3.4661 Atm 351.2 Kpa 2634.2239 mmHg

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C₄H₁₀

Isobutane

Liquid / Gas Volumes

Calculate a liquid or gas volume or a mass

Liquid Phase

At boiling point at 1.013 bar

m3(Volume)

kg(Mass)

Gas Phase

in standard conditions (1,013 bar, 15°C)

m3(Volume)

kg(Mass)

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C₄H₁₀

Isobutane

Applications

Examples of uses of this molecule in Industry and Healthcare

Laboratories & Research Centers

In mixture with argon, isobutane is used in Geiger counter and for the detector in X ray fluorescence as quentching gas. Isobutane is also used as reagent gas in chemical ionization mass spectrometry. In mixture with other hydrocarbons, isobutane is used as reference point in calorimetric measurements for the measurement of PCI of hydrocarbons or coal. Isobutane is used in calibration gas mixtures for petrochemical industry, environmental emission monitoring, industrial hygiene monitors and trace impurity analyzers.

Laboratories & Research Centers

Other

Isobutane is used as a propellant, a solvent or a refrigerant.

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C₄H₁₀

Isobutane

Safety & Compatibility

Information to safely use this molecule

Major hazards
Material compatibility

Safety

Autoignition Temperature in Air at Patm and Flammability Limits in Air at Patm and 293.15 K (except if the temperature is indicated)

Europe (according to EN1839 for Limits and EN 14522 for autoignition temperature)
- Auto-ignition temperature
  
  460
  °C
  860 °F 733.15 K
- Flash point
  
  /
- Lower flammability limit
  
  /
- Upper flammability limit
  
  /
US (according to NFPA for Limits and ASTM E659 for autoignition temperature)
- Auto-ignition temperature
  
  460
  °C
  860 °F 733.15 K
- Flash point
  
  /
- Lower flammability limit
  
  /
- Upper flammability limit
  
  /

Threshold of toxicity

VME

/
VLE

/
ILV-8h

/
ILV 15mn

/
TLV-TWA (USA)

800
ppm
800 ppm 0.08 vol% 8.E-4 vol/vol
TLV-STEL (USA)

/

Metals

Aluminium

Satisfactory
Brass

Satisfactory
Monel

Satisfactory
Copper

Satisfactory
Ferritic Steel

Satisfactory
Stainless steel

Satisfactory
Zinc

Satisfactory
Titanium

No data

Plastics

Polytetrafluoroethylene

Satisfactory
Polychlorotrifluoroethylene

Satisfactory
Polyvinylidene fluoride

Satisfactory
Polyvinyl chloride

Satisfactory
Ethylene tetrafluoroethylene

Satisfactory
Polycarbonate

Not recommended
Polyamide

Satisfactory
Polypropylene

Satisfactory

Elastomers

Buthyl (isobutene- isoprene) rubber

Not recommended
significant swelling
Nitrile rubber NBR

Satisfactory
Chloroprene

Satisfactory
Silicone

Not recommended
significant swelling and modification of the properties of the material
Perfluoroelastomers

Satisfactory
Fluoroelastomers

Satisfactory
Neoprene

Satisfactory
Polyurethane

Satisfactory
Ethylene-Propylene

Not recommended
significant swelling and modification of the properties of the material

Lubricants

Hydrocarbon based lubricant

Not recommended
significant loss of mass
Fluorocarbon based lubricant

Satisfactory

Materials compatibility

Recommendations : Air Liquide has gathered data on the compatibility of gases with materials to assist you in evaluating which materials to use for a gas system. Although the information has been compiled from what Air Liquide believes are reliable sources (International Standards: Compatibility of cylinder and valve materials with gas content; Part 1- Metallic materials: ISO11114-1 (March 2012), Part 2 - Non-metallic materials: ISO11114-2 (April 2013), it must be used with extreme caution and engineering judgement. No raw data such as these can cover all conditions of concentration, temperature, humidity, impurities and aeration. It is therefore recommended that this table is only used to identify possible materials for applications at high pressure and ambient temperature. Extensive investigation and testing under the specific conditions of use need to be carried out to validate a material selection for a given application. Contact the regional Air Liquide team for expertise service.

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C₄H₁₀

Isobutane

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General information