Polyolefins polyethylene prices

A manufacturer considering using a thermoplastic elastomer would probably first consider one of the thermoplastic polyolefin rubbers or TPOs, since these tend to have the lowest raw polymer price. These are mainly based on blends of polypropylene and an ethylene-propylene rubber (either EPM or EPDM) although some of the polypropylene may be replaeed by polyethylene. A wide range of blends are possible which may also contain some filler, oil and flame retardant in addition to the polymers. The blends are usually subject to dynamic vulcanisation as described in Section 11.9.1. 

Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) is a thermoplastic polyester characterized by mechanical and optical properties similar to polystyrene (PS) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET). It is obtained from natural sources, completely biodegradable and compostable in controlled conditions as already stated in previous chapters. PLA offers some key points with respect to classic synthetic polymers, since it is a bioresource and renewable, while raw materials are cheap and abundant compared to oil. From a commercial point of view, a non-secondaiy approach, it can embellish with the word green so fashioned for the major stream consumers. Legislation can also help the commercial diffusion of biopolymers. As an example, a decisive leap has been made with the control of non-biodegradable shopping bags distribution in the European Commission and many of its member states. In addition, PLA has received some interest from the industrial sectors because of its relatively low price and commercial availability compared with other bioplastics. This is the veiy key point for any successful polymer application. In fact, the current price of commercial PLA falls between 1.5 and 2 kg , which is sufficiently close to other polymers like polyolefins, polyesters or poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC). Clearly, the PLA market is still in its infancy, but it is expected that the decrease in the production costs and the improvement in product performance will result in a clear acceleration in the industrial interest for PLA uses. It is estimated that PLA consumption should reach... 

With ever-increasing oil prices, recycled plastics are becoming an economical alternative for the production of a wide range of commodity plastic parts. Polyolefinic polymers, such as polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP), contain approximately 14% hydrogen these materials could provide the hydrogen required for thermal coprocessing with biomass, which could lead to an increase of the liquid production of oligomers or short chain polymeric materials. 

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