Olefins

Olefins are petrochemical derivatives produced by cracking feed stocks from raw materials such as natural gas and crude oil. Lower olefins have short 93 chains with only two, three or four carbon atoms, and the simplest one is ethylene. The higher olefins have chains of up to twenty or more carbon atoms. The main olefin products are ethylene, propylene, butadiene and C4 derivatives. They are used to produce plastics, as chemical intermediates, and, in some cases, as industrial solvents.

Ethylene, derivatives

Polyester and polyester resins is described under the Aromatics chain.

Ethanol, also known as ethyl alcohol (common alcohol), is manufactured by synthesis from ethylene. It is an oxygenated hydrocarbon used in a wide variety of high performance solvent applications (toiletries and cosmetics, paints, lacquer thinners, printing inks, dyes, detergents, disinfectants and pharmaceuticals), as a chemical raw material for the production of a range of monomers and solvents, and is essential in pharmaceutical purification. In transportation, ethanol is used as a vehicle fuel by itself, blended with gasoline, or as a gasoline octane enhancer and oxygenate.

Ethanolamines are prepared by the reaction of ammonia and ethylene oxide. They include monoethanolamine (MEA), diethanolamine (DEA) and triethanolamine (TEA). The three are widely used in industry, principally as absorbents for acidic components of natural gas and of petroleum-refinery gas streams. It is also used to make detergents, metalworking fluids, and as gas sweetening. TEA is used in detergents and cosmetics applications and as a cement additive.

Polyethylene (PE), with a world production around 80 million tons, is the most common plastic (and polymer). It is a polymer of ethylene, especially any of various lightweight thermoplastics that are resistant to chemicals and moisture, and has good insulating properties. Its primary use is in packaging (plastic bags, plastic films, geomembranes, containers including bottles, etc.).

Many kinds of polyethylene are known, with most having the chemical formula (C₂H₄)nH₂. It has many different trade varieties, and the most common are:

·         High-density polyethylene (HDPE) is used predominantly in the manufacture of blow-molded bottles for milk and household cleaners and injection-molded pails, bottle caps, appliance housings and toys.

·         Low-density polyethylene (LDPE) is used in film applications due to its toughness, flexibility and relative transparency. Typically, LDPE is used to manufacture flexible films such as those used for plastic retail bags. LDPE is also used to flexible lids and bottles, in wire and cable applications for its stable electrical properties and processing characteristics.

·         Linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) is used predominantly in film applications due to its toughness, flexibility and relative transparency. LLDPE is the preferred resin for injection molding because of its superior toughness

Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) A polymer of vinyl chloride is used to make a diverse range of cost-effective products with various levels of technical performance suited to a wide range of applications. Many of these PVC products are used every day and include everything from medical devices such as medical tubing and blood bags, to footwear, electrical cables, packaging, stationery and toys.