Description
Isopentane 95% (CAS No. 78-78-4), also known as 2-methylbutane, is a colorless, volatile liquid. Specifically, we see it used mainly as a physical blowing agent in EPS and PU foam production. Because foam blowing relies on its low boiling point and vapor pressure rather than chemical purity, this grade offers the right performance at a more cost-effective price point than higher-purity grades.
However, this grade is not suitable for polyethylene catalyst or polymerization-grade applications, where trace impurities can deactivate the catalyst. For that use case, see Isopentane 99%.
Isopentane 95%: Technical Specifications
| Property |
Specification |
Test Result (Typical) |
| Isopentane Content |
≥95% |
97.99% |
| Molecular Formula |
C5H12 |
— |
| CAS Number |
78-78-4 |
— |
| n-Pentane Content |
≤5% |
2.01% |
| Total Pentane |
≥99% |
99.997% |
| Sulfur Content |
≤2 ppm |
0.78 ppm |
| Water Content |
≤50 ppm |
15 ppm |
| Unsaturated Compounds |
≤50 ppm |
Not detected |
| Appearance |
Colorless, transparent, no mechanical impurities |
Conforms |
Applications for Isopentane 95%
What’s more, because EPS and PU foam blowing depends on vapor pressure and boiling point rather than trace-level purity, this grade handles the process reliably without the added cost of high-purity refining. Small amounts of n-pentane or other pentane isomers have little effect on cell structure or insulation performance, which is why foam producers usually choose this grade over the 99% option. As a result, it remains the standard choice across most foam manufacturing lines.
Packaging Options
| Packaging |
Capacity |
| Steel Drums |
200L (130KG net weight) |
| ISO Tank |
14.7MT / 25CBM or 15.5MT / 26CBM |
Overall, Isopentane 95% offers a practical, cost-effective option for large-scale foam manufacturing. For additional physical property data, see our PubChem reference entry.