Definition: “Ethylene” is one of the most important Olefin products. It is a colourless, flammable gas with a slightly sweet odor.
As shwon in the diagram below, it comes directly from the cracking in a steam cracker of different feedstocks:
- Gas such as ethane, propane, butane
- Liquid naphtha coming from oil refineries.
Comments: The chart below shows the chain of Ethylene derivatives. Polyethylene (PE) is the most common one representing more than 50% of world ethylene demand. The primary use of polyethylene is in film applications for packaging, carrier bags and trash liners. Other applications include injection moulding, pipe extrusion, wire and cable sheathing and insulation, as well as extrusion coating of paper and cardboard.
