Decene is an alkene

Alkene

In organic chemistry, an alkene, olefin, or olefine is an unsaturated chemical compound containing at least one carbon-to-carbon double bond...

 with the formula . Decene contains a chain of ten carbon atoms with one double bond

Double bond

A double bond in chemistry is a chemical bond between two chemical elements involving four bonding electrons instead of the usual two. The most common double bond, that between two carbon atoms, can be found in alkenes. Many types of double bonds between two different elements exist, for example in...

. There are many isomers of decene depending on the position and geometry of the double bond. 1-Decene is the only isomer of industrial importance. As an alpha olefin, it is used as a monomer

Monomer

A monomer is an atom or a small molecule that may bind chemically to other monomers to form a polymer; the term "monomeric protein" may also be used to describe one of the proteins making up a multiprotein complex...

 in copolymers and is an intermediate in the production of epoxides, amines, oxo alcohols, synthetic
lubricants, synthetic fatty acids, and alkylated aromatics.

The industrial processes used in the production of 1-decene are oligomerization of ethylene

Ethylene

Ethylene is a gaseous organic compound with the formula . It is the simplest alkene . Because it contains a carbon-carbon double bond, ethylene is classified as an unsaturated hydrocarbon. Ethylene is widely used in industry and is also a plant hormone...

 by the Ziegler Process or by the cracking

Fluid catalytic cracking

Fluid catalytic cracking is the most important conversion process used in petroleum refineries. It is widely used to convert the high-boiling, high-molecular weight hydrocarbon fractions of petroleum crude oils to more valuable gasoline, olefinic gases, and other products...

of petrochemical waxes.