Marketing and economics of oleochemicals to the plastics industry

The number of oleochemicals used in the plastics industry are many and varied. Usually the chemicals sold are designed for a specific application that depends on the end use and the economics of production. The percentage of oleochemicals that end up in the finished product is small, usually 0.1–1%, but it is there for a very important physical specification that the chemical imparts to the finished resin. The chemicals and applications are discussed by the structure of the additive and the property it imparts to the finished resin. The marketing of oleochemical to the plastics industry usually requires considerable application and process research to develop specialized molecules that impart the desired properties to the finished resin. Market size and economics numbers refer only to the US markets.