Cross-linked Polyethylene (PEX/XLPE) Market to Perceive Substantial Growth During 2024
Polyethylene
is widely used in a variety of applications including packaging,
medical, consumer goods, and insulation. It is a thermoplastic
processed at a temperature ranging from 150 to 200 0C. Like all
thermoplastics, polyethylene begins to flow above its melting point
and loses its useful mechanical properties which limits its operation
at high temperatures. It is cross-linked so as to change its nature
from thermoplastic to thermoset and form a more temperature-resistant
plastic with improved mechanical strength. Important forms of
polyethylene include low-density polyethylene (LDPE), polyolefinic
elastomer (POE), high-density polyethylene (HDPE), ethyl vinyl
acetate (EVA), and linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE).
Cross-linking of polyethylene can be carried out through either
physical or chemical means. In the chemical process, free radicals
are generated via chemical reactions while in the physical one, they
are generated through irradiation. In cross-linked polyethylene, the
chains merge through covalent bonds to form a three-dimensional
cross-linked insoluble and infusible product.
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Cross-linking
of polyethylene results in a polymer that exhibits high molecular
weight which improves the impact strength, abrasion resistance, and
environmental stress cracking resistance (ESCR) of the polymer
without significantly altering its tensile strength and density.
Cross-linked polyethylene is generally available in pipe, tubing,
wire, and cable forms. Pipes and tubings are majorly obtained from
cross-linking HDPE, while wires and cables are acquired from
cross-linking LDPE. A common application of cross-linked polyethylene
is plumbing. The polymer is rapidly replacing copper pipes and tubes
as it is more flexible, comparatively much cheaper, resists
corrosion, and exhibits a wider useful temperature range. Another
important application of the polymer is in mining.
Due
to the ease with which cross-linked polyethylene piping can be
mounted, the cost and time required for the installation, repair, and
maintenance of piping in mines are reduced considerably. Electrical
tubing made from cross-linked polyethylene is used to protect copper
wires as the polymer is inherently resistant to heat, weather, and
moisture in addition to being insulating. Cross-linked polyethylene
is also employed in chemical storage tanks due to its high strength
and heat & chemical resistance. Its usage in wear-resistant
joints is also being investigated currently. Other applications of
the polymer include dental materials, automotive ducts &
housings, kayaks, and canoes.
North
America is one of the leading consumers of cross-linked polyethylene
as the polymer is substituting other materials in plumbing
applications in residential and industrial establishments. Demand for
the polymer stems mainly from the well-developed sewerage and water
transmission systems in this region. Asia Pacific is another
important region for the cross-linked polymer market. China and India
are rapidly modernizing their public infrastructure including their
water distribution and sewerage systems. This, in turn, is projected
to fuel the demand for cross-linked polyethylene in this region.
Demand
for cross-linked polythene is also expected to rise in the mining and
chemical manufacturing industries. The market in Europe is
anticipated to witness moderate growth in the next few years due to
the region’s limited need to spend on infrastructure development.
In many countries in Africa, Asia, and South America, inferior and
low-grade materials are used for plumbing and water distribution
systems, creating a huge potential for increased consumption of
cross-linked polyethylene in these regions.
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Key
players in this market include ExxonMobil Chemical Company, Inc.,
LyondellBasell Industries, 3H Vinacom Co., Ltd, Hanwha Chemicals,
Arkema Group, AkzoNobel N.V., Falcone Specialities AG, Borealis AG,
and PolyOne Corporation.
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