Equistar has its first commercial PE from 'Star' catalysts

10 October 2000 18:34  [Source: ICIS news]

HOUSTON (CNI)--Equistar Chemicals has made its first commercial production run of a polyethylene (PE) resin using its new generation Star single-site catalysts, the company said Tuesday.

The run was at the company's Clinton, Iowa plant on a vertical slurry-loop reactor producing high density polyethylene (hdPE).

Equistar said its Star catalysts permit fine-tuning of polymer properties, including molecular weight distribution, melt index, density and long-chain branching. The company said Star-catalysed polymers have optimal value as blend components for a variety of flexible and rigid packaging applications. Other applications include film extrusion and injection moulding.

Eugene Allspach, Equistar's president and chief operating officer, said: "This is a first step in the development of a host of new products. We are looking at using the Star single-site catalysts to make higher-performance linear low density polyethylene (lldPE) products and other hdPE products."

He said Equistar's development strategy is to match the right Star catalyst with the right process to make the right product.

Houston, Texas-based Equistar Chemicals is a joint venture combining the petrochemicals and polymers business of Lyondell Chemical, Millennium Chemicals and Occidental Petroleum.

By: Mike Sheridan
+1 713 525 2653

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