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Polybutadiene Rubber: Fueling the Synthetic Rubber Revolution
November 14, 2024
Polybutadiene rubber (BR) is a high-volume synthetic rubber, which, together with styrene-butadiene rubber, accounts for over 60% of global synthetic rubber production. In terms of synthetic rubber consumption, in 2020, butadiene rubber and emulsion polymerized styrene-butadiene rubber (E-SBR) made up …
Polystyrene in the Global Economy: Production Capacity and Market Insights
November 6, 2024
Polystyrene (PS) is an amorphous thermoplastic polymer produced with the help of the polymerization of styrene monomer and processed using such methods as injection moulding, extrusion, or thermoforming. Polystyrene, styrene monomer, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), styrenic specialties, and relevant styrene-based …
Polyether Ether Ketone (PEEK): Revolutionizing Industries with Advanced Polymer Solutions
October 28, 2024
Polyether ether ketone (PEEK) belongs to a class of semi-crystalline and high-performance thermoplastic specialty polymers, known for their significant role in the production of advanced and composite materials for use in multiple industrial and consumer applications. Specialty polymers demonstrate numerous …
Ethylene oxide (EO): Technological Advancements & Market Dynamics
October 15, 2024
Ethylene oxide (EO) is an important chemical used in a wide range of products and industries. It is mainly utilized in the form of an intermediate to make ethylene glycol (EG), monoethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, ethanolamine, ethylene glycol ethers, and …
Perchloroethylene (PERC): Balancing Industrial Demand with Health & Environmental Risks
October 3, 2024
Perchloroethylene (PERC or PCE), also known as tetrachloroethylene or tetrachloroethene, is a volatile chlorinated hydrocarbon used in various industrial and consumer applications. PERC’s key application areas include (a) a dry cleaning agent (in use since the 1940s and is currently …
Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether (MTBE) Market: Navigating Dynamics and Challenges
September 24, 2024
Methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) belongs to the class of oxygenates, which also includes ethyl tertiary butyl ether (ETBE), tertiary amyl methyl ether (TAME), tertiary amyl ethyl ether (TAEE), and ethanol. Oxygenates are used as octane boosters to raise the …
Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC): Exploring the Third Most Used Plastic Worldwide
September 16, 2024
Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is an amorphous thermoplastic polymer with significant functional versatility that spreads to nearly all industries, including electrical engineering, construction, agriculture, healthcare, automobiles, toys, clothing, footwear, packaging, etc. This makes PVC the world’s third most widely used plastic. …
Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE): A Cornerstone of the Fluoroplastics Market
September 5, 2024
Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) belongs to a large family of polymers produced by chain-growth polymerization. It is also a fluoroplastic, which accounts for over 60% of the $4.5bn-worth fluoroplastics market. Polytetrafluoroethylene is known to exhibit high levels of crystallinity and melting temperatures. …
Polyphenylene Oxide: Pioneering Advanced Thermoplastics Across Industries
August 29, 2024
Polyphenylene oxide (PPO) or polyphenylene ether (PPE, also known as modified polyphenylene ether, mPPE) are thermoplastic polymers obtained via step-growth polymerization reactions and specifically via oxidative polymerization of 2,6-disubstituted phenols. Polyphenylene oxide forms blends or alloys with other polymers, such …
Vinyl Chloride Monomer: The Backbone of the Polyvinyl Chloride Industry
August 16, 2024
Vinyl chloride monomer (VCM) is an important chemical intermediate mainly utilised in the production of polyvinyl chloride (PVC). PVC is one of the world’s most widely used polymers, after polyethylene and polypropylene. Despite the ongoing PVC oversupply, demand for this …
O-Xylene Market: Essential Feedstock for Diverse Industrial Commodities
August 5, 2024
Ortho-xylene (o-xylene) is an important aromatic hydrocarbon and an essential raw material in the production of phthalic anhydride (PA) through the oxidation of o-xylene in a fluidized bed reactor. PA is in turn used to manufacture phthalate plasticizers, unsaturated polyester …
Ethyl Tertiary Butyl Ether (ETBE): A Key Oxygenate for Cleaner and Efficient Fuels
July 29, 2024
Ethyl tertiary butyl ether (ETBE) is a popular oxygenate additive and a representative of the fuel ethers family, which also includes methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE), tertiary amyl methyl ether (TAME), and tertiary amyl ethyl ether (TAEE). Being a key …
Epichlorohydrin (ECH) in the Modern World: Meeting Demand Across Diverse Industries
July 15, 2024
Epichlorohydrin (ECH) is a chemical intermediate known for its important role in the manufacture of epoxy resins. Globally, epoxy resin production accounts for over 80% of ECH consumption. Epichlorohydrin is used in the textile industry, paper and paperboard products, air/water …
Styrene Acrylonitrile (SAN) Market: Bridging Engineering Excellence and Sustainability
July 2, 2024
Styrene acrylonitrile (SAN) is a versatile engineering thermoplastic copolymer of styrene and acrylonitrile. Styrene monomer is obtained mostly via the dehydrogenation of ethylbenzene, while acrylonitrile is manufactured by combining propylene, ammonia, and air via an ammoxidation process. Over 95% of …
Expandable Polystyrene: From Production to Market Trends and Environmental Impact
June 20, 2024
Expandable polystyrene (EPS) is a versatile polymeric foam used in a vast range of commercial applications and industries, including packaging, construction (especially, when EPS is employed as an energy-efficient, durable, light, and robust insulation material), electronics, electrical goods, the automobile …
Polyphthalamide (PPA): The High-Performance Polymer Revolutionizing Various Applications
June 13, 2024
Polyphthalamide (PPA) is a high-performance engineering polymer with more advanced mechanical and thermal properties as compared to conventional commodity polymers. For instance, its melting point could peak 325°C, which is impressive for a polymer. In general, PPA is firmly embedded …
Dimethyl Terephthalate (DMT) & Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET): Navigating Market Changes & Innovations
June 6, 2024
Dimethyl terephthalate (DMT) is a high-production volume chemical intermediate, which is predominantly used to make polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and other linear polyesters (e.g. polybutylene terephthalate). For example, dimethyl terephthalate can be applied to manufacture 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol, which is further employed to …
Acetone: A Critical Component in Diverse Industrial Sectors
May 27, 2024
Acetone is an important chemical compound used in a wide range of commercial applications. It plays a prominent role as an intermediate to manufacture such chemicals as methyl methacrylate (MMA), bisphenol-A (BPA), and methacrylic acid, which are in turn applied …
Titanium Dioxide: Market Trends and Production Insights
May 16, 2024
Titanium dioxide (TiO2) is an oxide of titanium and a mineral product that can be obtained from natural or synthetic sources. Natural titanium dioxide exists in three crystalline forms, i.e. anatase, rutile, and brookite. However, the bulk of pure titanium …
Potassium Hydroxide: A Global Market Overview and Future Prospects
May 7, 2024
Potassium hydroxide (KOH), also known as caustic potash, is a potassium salt that serves a wide range of end-use markets. These key end markets include the production of potassium carbonate and potassium phosphates, chemical intermediates, potassium salts, and other applications, …
Ethylbenzene Market: Balancing Industrial Demand with Environmental Responsibility
April 29, 2024
Ethylbenzene (EB) is an aromatic compound that is among the most popular building blocks in the chemical industry, together with benzene, toluene, and xylene. Ethylbenzene is traditionally produced by the alkylation of benzene with ethylene in the presence of a …
Aniline in the Modern World: Production Insights and Market Constraints
April 18, 2024
Aniline, also known as phenylamine or aminobenzene, is an aromatic amine compound within an important commodity value chain consisting of nitrobenzene, aniline, methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI production is a major outlet for aniline) and polyurethanes. It is used in a …
Polyphenylene Sulphide: Bridging Performance with Versatility in Advanced Applications
April 9, 2024
Polyphenylene sulphide (PPS) is a high-performance engineering thermoplastic which demonstrates a useful combination of properties, such as high thermal and dimensional stability, excellent chemical, corrosion and fire resistance, low toxicity, good rigidity and toughness, as well as excellent processing capacity. …
Polyisobutylene: Charting the Course of a High-Performance Elastomer in Global Industries
April 1, 2024
Polyisobutylene (PIB) is a thermoplastic elastomer whose properties vary from an oily liquid to a rubbery material, subject to a degree of polymerization. PIB grades could be of low, medium, and high molar mass, as well as conventional and highly …
Polyethylene Market: Charting the Course of the World’s Predominant Plastic
March 21, 2024
Polyethylenes (PEs) are generally referred to as homopolymers of ethylene, as well as ethylene copolymers with some olefins. Ethylene can be obtained by cracking ethane or naphtha, which are in turn derived from natural gas and oil, respectively. Fossil fuel-derived …