Gas-Phase Process Company History

Union Carbide/UNIPOL Union Carbide introduced the gas-phase, fluid-bed process under the tradename of UNIPOL commercially in the late 1960s using a G-1250 reactor (reactor volume 1250 cubic feet) for the manufacture of HDPE. The LLDPE was added to the product mix in about 1977. Union Carbide formed a joint venture with Exxon in 1996 to pursue the addition of single-site catalysts to the 

Catalyst Type Catalyst Components HDPE Product Types  

UNIPOL process and formed a joint partnership under the name Univation Technologies LLC in 1997. In 1999, Exxon and Mobil merged. Finally, in 2001, Dow Chemical merged with Union Carbide so that the UNIPOL process evolved from the technical combination of four companies. As of 2010, Univation is considered a joint venture of Dow and ExxonMobil Chemical Companies. 

Lyondell/BaseU Basell was formed over many years from combining the assets of BASF, Flercules, Flimont, ICI, Montecatini, Montedison and Royal Dutch Shell. In 2007, Basell merged with United States-based Lyondell Chemical Company, which had acquired the assets of Occidental Chemical Corporation to become LyondellBasell, which is now a leader in the polyethylene industry. 

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