Published October 1978
Union Carbide has developed a new LDPE process that requires only half the capital investment of another conventional high pressure process and that uses as little as a quarter of the energy. Assuming that the new process is essentially the same as Carbide's gas-phase, fluidized bed process for high density polyethylene, SRI confirms the economic advantages claimed by Carbide.
The question remains, to what extent can product grades based on the presumably more linear LDPE from the Carbide process compete with the familiar grades developed from high pressure-produced LDPE? We think an extended period of trial and testing lies ahead, with the possible outcome that the new products will find their own optimum areas of application rather than effect sweeping displacement of conventional LDPE from its existing markets.
