Compressed ethylene phase states and their importance for the production of low density polyethylene

Abstract

In the last three decades the authors have published papers on the concept of the supra-molecular organization and the phase state of compressed ethylene gas and their effects on the mechanism and kinetics of free-radical ethylene polymerization. The effects on the macromolecular structure of low density polyethylene (LDPE) were also explained. The importance of the phase state of compressed ethylene on the industrial process of LDPE production are presented in this paper: The start-up of polymerization, the peak in the polymerization rate curve, the stability of the reaction, the structure and properties of LDPE, the separation of unreacted ethylene and polyethylene and ethylene compression are discussed.