POLYOLEFINS

High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) is used in blow moulding applications for bottles and containers, film extrusion and packaging applications, injection moulding for crates and containers and extrusion for packaging and conduit. It is polymerised by slurry, solution or gas-phase reactor and in some cases on swing plants that also can produce LLDPE. Metallocene catalyst systems produce polymers with enhanced product and processing characteristics and bimodal processes produce HDPE grades comparable with metallocene catalysts. There are five main technologies which together account for 80% of global capacity.

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Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE) is mainly used for film extrusion and packaging applications. It is also used for injection moulding and wire and cable extrusion. LDPE has unique properties which made it the polymer of choice for extrusion coating and stretch-wrap. However in many extrusion applications it is now being replaced by linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) or is used as a blend with LLDPE. It is produced eitherby a high-pressure tubular reactor or by an autoclave process. The tubular process is more competitive for high-volume plants and LyondellBasell, ExxonMobil and Sabic are the main licensors.

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Linear Low Density Polyethylene (LLDPE) is mainly used for film extrusion and packaging applications and also for injection moulding and wire and cable extrusion. It has progressively replaced low density polyethylene (LDPE) in many applications because of its superior tear and puncture resistance. It is produced by solution, slurry and gas-phase processes and in some cases on swing plants that also produce high denisity polyethylene (HDPE). LLDPE’s characteristics are established by co-polymerisation with the alpha-olefins butene-1, hexene and octene. Metallocene catalysts allow resins to be made with narrow molecular weight distribution allowing product properties to be tailored for specific uses.

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Polypropylene resin is used for packaging, fibres and automotive and other mouldings. It is manufactured in different forms including homopolymer, random copolymer and medium- and high-impact copolymer. It can be processed by injection moulding, film and fibre extrusion. The major process technology is Spheripol, licensed by LyondellBasell. The main production methods are based on gas and bulk-phase processes. Other technology licensors are Dow Chemical, Novolen, Borealis and Mitsui Chemicals.

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