Product Overview
Liquid Hexene is a linear alpha-olefin (LAO) with the chemical formula CH₂=CH-(CH₂)₃-CH₃, characterized by a terminal double bond. It is a clear, colorless, and flammable liquid at room temperature. As a higher carbon-number comonomer, liquid 1-hexene plays a critical and specialized role in tailoring the properties of polyethylene. Its primary industrial value lies in its use as a co-monomer in the production of linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) and high-density polyethylene (HDPE) copolymers. The controlled incorporation of liquid 1-hexene during polymerization allows for precise modification of polymer microstructure, directly influencing the performance characteristics of the final plastic resin.
Basic Information
| CAS No. | 592-41-6 |
| UN No. | UN2370 (Hexenes) |
| Molecular Formula | C₆H₁₂ |
| Hazard Classification | 3 (Flammable liquid) |
Key Attributes & Parameters
| Purity | Polymer-grade typically >99.0%, with strict limits on impurities such as isomers (internal hexenes), oxygenates, sulfur compounds, and water, which can poison sensitive polymerization catalysts. |
| Physical State | Clear, colorless, mobile liquid. |
| Boiling Point | 63.5 °C (146.3 °F) |
| Melting Point | -139.8 °C (-219.6 °F) |
| Flash Point | -26 °C (-15 °F) (closed cup) |
| Density | ~0.67 g/mL at 20°C |
| Key Specification | Often specified by "alpha-olefin content" (typically >99.0% 1-hexene). |
Features & Advantages
Precision Comonomer for LLDPE/HDPE:
The primary advantage of liquid 1-hexene is its effectiveness as a comonomer with ethylene. It introduces controlled short-chain branching (SCB) into the polymer backbone, reducing density and crystallinity to create LLDPE with enhanced mechanical properties.
Superior Polymer Performance
Compared to using butene as a comonomer, 1-hexene creates polymers with significantly improved toughness, tear strength, puncture resistance, and environmental stress crack resistance (ESCR), especially in film applications.
Catalyst Compatibility
Works efficiently with modern catalyst systems, including Ziegler-Natta, metallocene, and other single-site catalysts, enabling the production of advanced polyethylene grades.
Optimal Chain Length
The C6 chain provides an ideal balance between incorporating branching effects and maintaining efficient comonomer incorporation rates during polymerization.
Functional Characteristics
In copolymerization with ethylene, liquid 1-hexene functions by incorporating its molecule into the growing polyethylene chain. The double bond opens, and the hexyl group becomes a short side branch (short-chain branch). This branching disrupts the polymer's ability to crystallize tightly, lowering the overall density of the material from that of HDPE to create LLDPE. The frequency and distribution of these hexyl branches determine the resin's density, melting point, flexibility, and strength. Liquid hexene is typically stored under an inert atmosphere (like nitrogen) to prevent oxidation and is carefully metered into the polymerization reactor.
Primary Application Fields
Polyethylene Production (Dominant Use)
The overwhelming majority of liquid 1-hexene is used as a comonomer in the production of:
LLDPE: For high-performance flexible films (stretch film, heavy-duty sacks, agricultural film, food packaging).
HDPE: For blow-molding and pipe grades requiring enhanced environmental stress crack resistance (ESCR), such as for detergent bottles and chemical containers.
Specialty Chemicals
Intermediate in the synthesis of flavors, fragrances, surfactants (via hydroformylation to heptanal), plasticizer alcohols, and synthetic lubricants.
Laboratory & Research
Used as a reagent in organic synthesis and as a standard in analytical chemistry.
Customer Collaboration Case
A leading producer of premium-grade cast stretch film for pallet wrapping was facing market pressure to produce thinner, stronger films that could withstand higher loads without breaking. Their existing LLDPE, produced with butene comonomer, had reached performance limits. We partnered with them to transition to a 1-hexene-based LLDPE technology. We supplied consistent, high-purity (>99.5%) liquid 1-hexene and provided technical support to optimize their gas-phase reactor conditions for hexene incorporation. The resulting LLDPE resin, incorporating liquid 1-hexene, exhibited a superior balance of tensile strength, elongation, and puncture resistance. This allowed the customer to downgauge their film thickness by 15% while maintaining, and even improving, load-holding performance. The success of this liquid 1-hexene-based product enabled them to capture significant market share in the high-performance stretch film segment, reduce raw material consumption, and offer a more sustainable packaging solution to their clients.
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