Commodity Resins
The five main commodity resins are polyethylene (LDPE, LLDPE, HDPE), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and polyethylene terephthalate (PET). Key applications range from flexible and rigid food and non-food packaging, to a broad range of consumer goods products, agricultural and industrial products, automotive, and construction, including pipes.
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Fundamentals of Polyethylene – Part 6: PE Performance
Don’t assume you know everything there is to know about PE because it’s been around so long. Here is yet another example of how the performance of PE is influenced by molecular weight and density.
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Fundamentals of Polyethylene – Part 5: Metallocenes
How the development of new catalysts—notably metallocenes—paved the way for the development of material grades never before possible.
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Polyethylene Fundamentals – Part 4: Failed HDPE Case Study
Injection molders of small fuel tanks learned the hard way that a very small difference in density — 0.6% — could make a large difference in PE stress-crack resistance.
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Fundamentals of Polyethylene – Part 3: Field Failures
Polyethylene parts can fail when an inappropriate density is selected. Let’s look at some examples and examine what happened and why.
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The Fundamentals of Polyethylene – Part 2: Density and Molecular Weight
PE properties can be adjusted either by changing the molecular weight or by altering the density. While this increases the possible combinations of properties, it also requires that the specification for the material be precise.
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The Fundamentals of Polyethylene – Part 1: The Basics
You would think we’d know all there is to know about a material that was commercialized 80 years ago. Not so for polyethylene. Let’s start by brushing up on the basics.
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Latest Commodity Resins News And Updates
Recycled PE Grades With Up to 100% PCR for Shrink Films
Dow’s new Revoloop grades was a collaboration with European shrink film manufacturer RKW Group.
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Mobile Spectroscopy System Expands to Identification of Multimaterial and Monomaterial Films
BASF’s trinamiX can now identify multimaterial and monomaterial films for improved recycling.
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Flame-Retardant PP Compounds
Sirmax North America now offers a broad range of these compounds within three key product families
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ICIS Launches: Ask ICIS Generative AI Commodities Assistant
Said to be the first of its kind, this AI assistant will enhance access to ICIS’ intelligence and insights for the energy and chemical markets.
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ExxonMobil Collaborated on Creation of a High-Performance, Recyclable, Nonlaminated Freezer Film
The company partnered with provider of plant-based foods Bunduelle and film extruder Constantia Drukpol.
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Updated Interactive Tool for Predicting Multilayer Film Performance
NPE 2024: NOVA Chemicals presents the latest enhancements to its Bonfire Multilayer Property Predictor and new Syndigo rPE portfolio
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Prices of PE, PP, PVC, PET Largely Firm, Flat for PS
By most measures, pricing for the five commodity resins appeared to be holding firm going into the third quarter.
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Prices Drop for PP, Largely Flat for PE, PS, PVC, and PET
While the major correction in PP prices was finally underway, generally stable pricing was anticipated for the other four commodity resins.
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Prices for PE, PS, PVC, PET Trending Flat; PP to Drop
Despite price increase nominations going into second quarter, it appeared there was potential for generally flat pricing with the exception of a major downward correction for PP.
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Heartland Polymers, North America’s Newest PP, Producer Makes NPE Debut
NPE2024: The only Canadian-based PP producer operates its inland complex just east of Edmonton, Alberta.
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Fundamentals of Polyethylene – Part 6: PE Performance
Don’t assume you know everything there is to know about PE because it’s been around so long. Here is yet another example of how the performance of PE is influenced by molecular weight and density.
Read More
Fundamentals of Polyethylene – Part 5: Metallocenes
How the development of new catalysts—notably metallocenes—paved the way for the development of material grades never before possible.
Read More
FAQ: Commodity Resins
Polyethylene is considered a “commodity” material, a designation that gives the impression that not much thought needs to go into picking the correct grade of material. But PE can be remarkably complicated simply because it is the only polymer that is available across a wide range of densities.