Product Overview
Pure Ethylene is the simplest alkene and one of the most important organic chemicals globally, serving as the fundamental building block for a vast array of petrochemical products. It is a colorless, flammable gas with a faint, sweet odor. As the cornerstone of the modern chemical industry, pure ethylene is primarily produced through the steam cracking of hydrocarbons. Its high chemical reactivity, driven by the carbon-carbon double bond, makes it the primary feedstock for polymers and other essential chemicals. The production scale, purity, and reliable supply of pure ethylene directly underpin the manufacturing of countless materials used in everyday life.




















Basic Information
| CAS No. | 74-85-1 |
| UN No. | UN1962 (Ethylene, compressed) or UN1038 (Ethylene, refrigerated liquid) |
| Molecular Formula | C₂H₄ |
| Hazard Classification | 2.1 (Flammable gas) |
Key Attributes & Parameters
| Purity | Polymer-grade ethylene typically exceeds 99.9% purity, with strict limits on impurities like acetylene, oxygen, carbon monoxide, sulfur compounds, and water, which can poison catalysts. |
| Physical State | Colorless, flammable gas; can be liquefied under pressure or at low temperatures (-103.7°C). |
| Boiling Point | -103.7°C (-154.7°F) |
| Vapor Density | Slightly less dense than air (0.97 relative to air). |
| Critical Properties | Critical temperature |
Features & Advantages
Unparalleled Versatility as a Feedstock
The ethylene molecule is the starting point for manufacturing major commodity plastics (polyethylene), fibers, solvents, and numerous industrial chemicals.
High Reactivity
The carbon-carbon double bond readily undergoes addition, polymerization, oxidation, and halogenation reactions, enabling diverse downstream chemistry.
Foundation of the Petrochemical Industry
Its massive and efficient production forms the economic backbone of the chemical sector, with global production exceeding 200 million metric tons annually.
Established Global Infrastructure
A mature and extensive network exists for its production, pipeline transportation, and storage, ensuring stable global supply chains.
Functional Characteristics
Pure ethylene functions as a reactive monomer and a versatile chemical intermediate. Its core function is to act as the repeating unit in addition polymerization to form polyethylene (HDPE, LDPE, LLDPE). It also undergoes catalytic reactions to form key intermediates: oxidation to ethylene oxide (for glycols, surfactants), hydration to ethanol, alkylation with benzene to ethylbenzene (for styrene), and halogenation to ethylene dichloride (for PVC). It is typically transported as a gas via extensive pipeline networks or as a refrigerated liquid (cryogenic) in specialized carriers over long distances.
Primary Application Fields
Polymer Production (Primary Use)
Over half of global ethylene production is used to manufacture various grades of polyethylene (PE), the world's most common plastic.
Ethylene Oxide/Ethylene Glycol
Oxidation of ethylene produces ethylene oxide, a precursor to ethylene glycol (antifreeze, PET polyester) and ethoxylates (surfactants).
Styrene Production
Via ethylbenzene, leading to polystyrene plastics and synthetic rubber (SBR).
Vinyl Chloride Monomer (VCM)
Combined with chlorine to form EDC, which is cracked to yield VCM for PVC production.
Other Chemicals
Production of ethanol, acetaldehyde, linear alpha olefins, and other specialty chemicals.
Customer Collaboration Case
A world-leading polyethylene (PE) resin producer was expanding its production capacity for premium film-grade LLDPE. The new plant design required an exceptionally stable and high-purity supply of pure ethylene to achieve the desired polymer properties (melt index, density, molecular weight distribution) and maximize catalyst efficiency. We collaborated on a dedicated pipeline supply project, ensuring a direct, uninterruptible feed of polymer-grade pure ethylene from our nearby cracker complex. Our integrated operations allowed for real-time monitoring and adjustment of key impurities (acetylene, CO, oxygen) to levels significantly below standard specifications. This consistent, high-quality ethylene feedstock enabled the customer's new plant to achieve startup targets ahead of schedule, operate at over 98% capacity utilization, and produce LLDPE resin with superior consistency that met the exacting requirements of high-end packaging film manufacturers, securing a strong market position from day one.
Heze Dongjian Chemical Sales Co., Ltd. takes a strong supply chain system as its core competitiveness and has established a guarantee network covering all aspects of procurement, warehousing, and transportation. At the procurement end, it has established long-term and stable cooperation with high-quality manufacturers in Nanjing, Shandong, Henan, Lianyungang and other places to ensure sufficient supply and controllable quality; at the warehousing end, it has built a mobile inventory management system to precisely match market demands; at the transportation end, it has formed a fleet of over 340 specialized hazardous chemical transportation vehicles, equipped with a professional operation team, to achieve safe and efficient delivery across the country. The company, with its comprehensive supply chain control capabilities, effectively avoids market fluctuation risks and ensures the continuous and stable supply of products. As a general taxpayer and a tax A-level enterprise, its standardized operation management and reliable supply chain services have won wide trust in the industry and become the preferred partner for many enterprises' chemical raw material purchases.
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