Ethylene-1-octene block copolymer (OBC) has excellent comprehensive properties and broad application prospects

Ethylene-1-octene block copolymer (OBC) is a polyolefin elastomer in which “soft segments” and “hard segments” are alternately arranged through polymerization reaction using 1-octene, ethylene, etc. as raw materials. . OBC is a new type of polyolefin elastomer. Due to the short promotion period, the current application scale of OBC is not as wide as that of POE. However, with the high-quality development of downstream industries and in-depth research on OBC performance, the application fields of OBC are constantly expanding.

OBC has a multi-block structure and has many advantages compared with traditional elastic materials. Compared with ethylene-1-octene random copolymer (POE), OBC has a higher crystallization rate, more regular crystal morphology, and better performance; compared with EPDM, OBC has good dispersion and outstanding molding ability; compared with SBR In comparison, OBC has the advantages of low price, low density, and high transparency; compared with EVA, EEA, etc., OBC has good toughness and high transparency; compared with soft PVC, OBC has good thermoforming, low equipment requirements, and cost-effectiveness. Higher advantage.

OBC includes PE base and PP base, which are suitable for different occasions. OBC has good processing properties and can be made into hoses, foam products, sealing strips, cover gaskets, flexible molded products, elastic films, elastic fibers, etc., and is widely used in automotive components, electrical equipment, health medicine, and footwear. , electronic appliances, building materials and other fields. Overall, OBC has superior comprehensive performance and broad future application prospects.

According to the “2022-2027 China Ethylene-1-Octene Block Copolymer (OBC) Industry Market In-depth Research and Development Prospects Forecast Report released by the Industrial Research Center” shows that OBC was first developed by DowDuPont using “chain shuttle” polymerization technology and achieved industrial scale-up production. At present, the annual production capacity of DowDuPont’s OBC series products has reached about 52,000 tons. The company has many OBC product brands, which can basically meet the needs of the downstream market. In addition, OBC manufacturing companies also include LG Chemical, Mitsui Chemicals, Mitsui Chemicals, etc.

There are serious structural problems in my country’s polyolefin industry. On the one hand, there is overcapacity in mid- to low-end general-purpose materials and fierce market competition. On the other hand, there is insufficient production capacity in high-end products and heavy reliance on imports. With the upgrading of market demand, the structure of my country’s polyolefin industry needs to be optimized. OBC is one of the high-end polyolefin products. At present, my country’s market demand still relies on imports.

Industry analysts said that as a new high-end polyolefin elastomer material, OBC has excellent comprehensive properties and is a substitute for traditional elastic materials. The future application prospects are good. OBC market promotion time is short, current application demand is limited, and industry development is relatively slow. In terms of production, due to production technology, patents and other factors, there are few OBC manufacturing companies in the world, and production capacity is mainly concentrated in Europe and the United States. my country has not yet achieved OBC production. , market demand relies on imports, and there is broad room for domestic substitution of OBC.