Polymers: An In-Depth Introduction
Understanding commodity polymers, their markets, pricing and cost structure will prepare you for doing business in these products.
Attending this course will give you insight into the production of polymers (the technologies involved and the applications of polymers) and a firm understanding of commodity polymer markets (pricing, global and regional market trends and key demand/price drivers).
Not right for you? Try our Petrochemicals II & III courses.
All of our petrochemical courses are also available in-house. Find out more
Benefits to you and your company:
This course can prepare you for doing business in commodity polymers by increasing your knowledge about the products and markets.
Gain insights into the production of polymers (the feedstocks, technologies and the applications of polymers) and a firm understanding of commodity polymer markets (pricing, global and regional market trends and key demand/price drivers).
Sign up to the course
By the end of the course, you will learn about:
- Basics of the polymer industry – Covering a brief history of the industry, early days of development and the production process and its technologies.
- Polymers supply & demand – Learn about shifts in global supply, who are the key market players plus major end-use segments. Understand the global and regional drivers affecting trade
- Industry trends – What are the key business drivers, major shifts in company strategies, investment trends, growth opportunities and challenges, plus the environmental issues affecting the industry.
- Pricing and Markets – Understand the key price drivers, cost structure, the influence of feedstock costs and margins. Learn how pricing is assessed, differences in markets and price mechanisms across regions.
- Plastics processing – The major processes to make finished plastic products such as film, injection moulded and blow moulded products
Hands on practice:
During the course you will also have an opportunity to put some of the learning into practice. Exercises and group discussions will help reinforce the information given in presentations and help you see how the different value chains interact.
Course fees:
View course fees.
Sign up to the course
Day One
REGISTRATION
Introduction
Understanding Petrochemicals And Polymers
- What are petrochemicals and where do they come from
- An overview of polymer chemistry explaining what are monomers/polymers, thermosets vs thermoplastics
Polymer Feedstocks Explained
- What are the key polymer feedstocks
- The main routes to making ethylene and propylene
- The other raw materials – butadiene, styrene
- The ethylene, propylene and butadiene value chains explained
REFRESHMENTS
Introduction To Polyethylene
- Brief history and early days of development
- Different types of polyethylene and key applications
- LDPE, LLDPE and HDPE – properties, production process, technologies and grades/applications
- Latest developments
- Overview of global and regional demand/supply, major producers
- Key end-use segments
- Major demand drivers
LUNCH
Introduction To Polypropylene
- Brief history and early days of development
- Production process, catalysts, technologies, types of PP, grades/applications
- Latest product developments
- Overview of global and regional demand/supply, major producers
- Key end-use segments
- Major demand drivers
Introduction To PVC
- Brief history and early days of development
- Production process - ethylene and carbide routes to making PVC
- Different grades of PVC and their applications
- Overview of global and regional demand/supply, major producers
- Key end-use segments and demand drivers
REFRESHMENTS
Building The Value Chain
Delegates will work in groups to put together the ethylene and propylene chain covering all derivatives.
Plastics Processing Fundamentals
- The different polymer properties (MFI, etc) and their role in processing
- Introduction to major processing techniques and their applications (injection moulding, extrusion, blow moulding, thermoforming)
- Role of additives
- Substitution and inter polymer competition
Wrap up and Objectives for Day Two
Day Two
Recap of Day One
Pricing And Markets
- Key price drivers
- Cost structure, influence of feedstock costs and margin analysis
- How pricing is assessed
- Differences in markets and price mechanisms across Asia, Europe and Americas
- China and its influence on markets
- The role of futures markets in China and its influence on the physical market
Pricing Exercise
REFRESHMENTS
Pricing Exercise continued
The World of Polyethylene Terephthalate
- PET and polyester
- Early days of development
- Production process
- Grades and applications
- Overview of global and regional demand/supply, major producers
- Key end-use segments and demand drivers
- Recycling and its importance in the PET business
LUNCH
Styrenics - polystyrene (PS) and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS)
- Brief history and early days of development
- Production process and technologies
- Different grades and their applications
- Overview of global and regional demand/supply, major producers
- Key end-use segments and demand drivers
- Major shifts in the PS business
Quiz
Delegates will work in groups to answer questions The purpose of this quiz is to reinforce learning from the presentations.
REFRESHMENTS
Industry Trends And Company Strategies
- Key business drivers
- Major shifts in company strategies
- Investment trends and changes to trade flows
- Growth opportunities and challenges
- Environmental issues
Course Summary
End of seminar
Sign up to the course
Paul Cherry
Paul has 20 years experience in the petrochemical industry working for Lyondell Basell and its predecessor companies, Basell, Montell and Shell Chemicals... read more
Peter Taffe
Peter Taffe, a chemical engineering graduate from the University of Leeds in Britain, has over 30 years of experience in technical and business publishing as well as industrial public relations. Peter has been... read more
Read more about our course leaders.
Sign up to the course
- Experienced sales and marketing staff new to the polymers business
- Buyers of commodity polymers
- Purchasers in end-user industries using and consuming polymers
- Support functions and services providers to this sector
- Personnel in the banking and financial sectors
- Technical staff looking for a broader overview of the polymers business
- Previous attendees to the introduction to petrochemicals training courses or experienced people looking for a refresher course
Sign up to the course