According to the different polymerization methods were divided into two categories:(1) emulsion polymerization, is the largest output of general-purpose synthetic rubber, styrene-butadiene rubber gum, and styrene-butadiene latex product is divided into rubber gum natural rubber processing performance similar to, but when the sulfur vulcanization consumption and a low cure rate than that of natural rubber, vulcanization of rubber gum after the wear-resistant, tear-resistant, anti-aging properties superior to natural rubber, but the intensity of lower primarily for the manufacture of tires, rubber hose, rubber and adhesives, styrene-butadiene latex emulsion is concentrated into a high solids content (40-70%) of latex, can be directly used to do a substitute and manufacturing of natural latex foam rubber, also used for non-rubber products, such as for the impregnated fibers and fabrics and so on, can improve its water-proof, crease-resistant, wear and feel and so on, in the synthetic latex of SBR latex 80% of total consumption; (2) solution polymerization, in order to butyl lithium as a catalyst in the non-polar solvents in the synthesis, sub-block copolymer, and two types of random copolymer.
按聚合方法不同分为两类：（1）乳液聚合，是产量最大的通用型合成橡胶，成品分为丁苯干胶和丁苯胶乳，干胶加工性能与天然橡胶相似，只是硫化时硫磺用量和硫化速度均比天然橡胶低，硫化后的干胶耐磨、抗撕裂、耐老化等性能优于天然橡胶，但强度较低，主要用于制造轮胎、胶管、胶鞋和胶粘剂，丁苯乳胶是乳液浓缩成高固体物含量（40—70％）的胶乳，可直接使用，做天然胶乳的代用品和制海绵橡胶，也用作非橡胶制品，如用以浸渍纤维和织物等，可改善其防水、防皱、耐磨和手感等，在合成胶乳中丁苯胶乳的总耗量为80％；（2）溶液聚合，以丁基锂为催化剂，在非极性溶剂中合成，分嵌段共聚物和无规共聚物两类。