Polyethylene future trends

The highest global consumption of any plastic coupled with the many distinct types of commercially available polyethylenes are testament to the rich history of major innovations in products, processes and breadth of applications of polyethylene. This chapter will give a historical perspective of these innovations in polyethylene including a breadth of product applications of polyethylene and the impact of metallocene polyethylenes commercialized in last 15 years. A very recent innovation of olefin block copolymers by The Dow Chemical Company will be described and some remarks will be made on future product innovations and trends. 

Attempts to forecast long-term future technology in any area of science is an impossible task left to individuals with relatively high egos. However, it is possible to state some very general trends which the polyethylene industry may follow over the course of the next 10-20 years based on the present day status of ethylene polymerization catalyst technology. 

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