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Paraxylene
One of the forms of xylene, paraxylene is used to make polyesters, which have applications in clothing, packaging and plastic bottles. The most widely-used polyester is polyethylene terephthalate (PET), used in lightweight, recyclable soft drinks bottles, as fibres in clothing, as a filling for anoraks and duvets, in car tyre cords and conveyor belts. It can also be made into a film that is used in video and audiotapes and x-ray films.
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PES
See Unsaturated polyester resins
PET
See Polyethylene terephthalate
Petrochemical
An organic compound that has been derived from petroleum or natural gas. There are almost 200 chemicals that can be so described and they include many simple hydrocarbons (e.g. methane, ethane), aromatic hydrocarbons (e.g. benzene, toluene), naphthenes and several of their derivatives.
Petroleum
A generic term applied to oil and oil products in all forms, such as crude oil, unfinished oils, petroleum products, natural gas plant liquids, and non-hydrocarbon compounds blended into finished petroleum products. See crude oil.
PG
See Propylene glycol
PGEE
Propylene Glycol Ethyl Ether.
PGEEA
Propylene Glycol Ethyl Ether Acetate.
PGEP
Propylene Glycol Ethers Panel (USA)
PGME
Propylene Glycol Methyl Ether.
PGMEA
Propylene Glycol Methyl Ether Acetate.
Phenanthrene
Phenanthrene is a crystalline polycyclic hydrocarbon isomeric to Anthracene. It is distilled from coal tar and is found in some coal tar oils which are used for example as wood preservatives and as carbon black feedstocks.
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Phenol
Phenol is an aromatic alcohol mainly used as an intermediate in organic synthesis. It essentially serves as a raw material for the production of bisphenol A, phenolic resins, alkylphenols and caprolactam.
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Phenolic resin
Phenolic resins are manufactured from phenol. They are used in wood products and moulding powders applications, and also have a wide range of applications on the electrical, mechanical and decorative markets, in the automotive industry, in building and construction, in thermal insulation products and in foundry industry products.
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Phthalate
Phthalates, or phthalate esters, are manufactured by the reaction of phthalic anhydride with one of a variety of alcohols ranging from methanol to tridecanol. They are predominantly used as plasticisers to soften the popular plastic PVC and to a lesser extent in non-PVC applications such as paints, rubber products, adhesives and some cosmetics.
PIAT
Petrochemical Industry Association of Taiwan
Pipeline
Line of pipe equipped with pumps and valves and other control devices for moving liquids and gases. It is one of the main modes of transport for many chemicals, including olefins, the main building blocks of the petrochemical industry.
PITT
Petroleum Institute of Thailand
Plastic
Any of numerous synthetic materials that consist of giant molecules called polymers, with extremely long chains of repeating units derived from short molecules. Plastics can be formed into products by moulding or otherwise shaping. The two major divisions of plastics are the thermosetting resins and thermoplastic resins. Raw materials for plastics include coal and cellulose, but by far the chief source is petroleum. Because of their easy manipulation, economical manufacture, low specific gravity, and resistance to corrosion, plastics have replaced metal, wood, glass, and other materials in many applications. An immense array of plastic industrial and consumer goods is available.
Plasticiser
A plasticiser is a substance which when added to a material, usually a plastic, makes it flexible, resilient and easier to handle. Modern plasticisers are manmade organic chemicals; the majority of which are esters, such as adipates and phthalates. They are major components that determine the physical properties of polymer products. There are more than 300 different types of plasticisers; the most commonly used are phthalates.
PlasticsEurope
Plastics Manufacturers Association, the plastics programme of Cefic.
PMMA
See Polymethyl methacrylate
PMRC
APPE Petrochemicals Market Research Committee. APPE is a major group within the Association of Petrochemicals Producers in Europe (APPE). For more information, click here.
PO
See Propylene oxide
Polyacrylate
A family of thermoplastic engineering resins made by the polymerization of an acrylic compound such as methyl methacrylate.
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Polycarbonate resins
Polycarbonate resins, derived from bisphenol A, are used for structural parts, impact resistant glazing, street-light bulbs, household appliance parts, components of electrical/electronic devices, automotive applications, reusable bottles, and food and drink containers. It is also a building block used to make epoxy resins for coatings, electrical laminants, composites and adhesives.
Polycarbonates
Polycarbonates are a particular group of thermoplastics.They are easily worked, molded, and thermoformed; as such, these plastics are very widely used in modern manufacturing. Polycarbonate is becoming more common in housewares as well as laboratories and in industry. It is often used to create protective features, for example in banks as well as vandal-proof windows and lighting lenses for many buildings
Polyester
Any of a group of polymers that consist basically of repeated units of an ester and are used especially in making fibres or plastics. Polyesters can be made into woven and knitted fabrics, either alone or blended with other fibres; they also have industrial applications such as ropes, filters, conveyor belts, and tyre cords.
Polyethylene
A polymer of ethylene, especially any of various lightweight thermoplastics that are resistant to chemicals and moisture, have good insulating properties, and are used especially in packaging and insulation.
Polyethylene terephthalate (PET)
Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is derived from xylene and is one of the most widely used industrial polyesters. It is used in lightweight, recyclable soft drink bottles, as fibres in clothing, as a filling for anoraks and duvets, in car tyre cords and conveyor belts. It can also be made into a film that is used in video and audio tapes and x-ray films.
Polyisobutylene
Polyisobutylene is a synthetic rubber, or elastomer. It is special because it is that only rubber that is gas impermeable, that is, it is the only rubber which can hold air for long periods of time. Polyisobutylene, sometimes called butyl rubber is a vinyl polymer, and is very similar to polyethylene and polypropylene in structure.
Polymer
When certain individual molecules (monomers) come together and link up in a chain-like fashion they form a polymer. The chemical reaction that forms a polymer is called polymerisation. There are natural polymers (often referred to as biopolymers), such as cellulose, certain rubbers and DNA, and synthetic polymers, such as polystyrene and fibreglass (see uPES). See also plastics, resins and rubber.
Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA)
Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) is made from methyl methacrylate and is mainly used in the construction industry, lighting applications, signs, automotive and related areas, electronics and consumer-ware.
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Polyol
An organic molecule with three or more alcohol groups attached.
Polyolefin
The collective name given to those polymers that are made from the lower olefins: ethylene, propylene, butylene and isoprene. The polyolefins are thermoplastic polymers.
Polypropylene
Any of various thermoplastic plastics or fibres that are polymers of propylene. Polypropylene can be made into fibres, where it is a major constituent in fabrics for home furnishings such as upholstery and carpets. Numerous industrial end uses include rope and cordage, disposable non-woven fabrics for diapers and medical applications. As a plastic, polypropylene is moulded into bottles for foods and personal care products, appliance housings, dishwasher-proof food containers, toys, automobile battery casings, and outdoor furniture.
Polystyrene
A solid plastic made from polymerised styrene and used in a wide variety of everyday applications, from coffee cups through to CD jewel boxes..
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Polyurethane
A synthetic compound derived from toluene, belonging to the family of organic polymers. Polyurethanes are used to make the foam in furniture, mattresses, car seats, building insulation, coatings for floors and furniture and refrigerators. They are also used in artificial sports tracks, jogging shoes, and in roller blade wheels.
Polyvinyl chloride (PVC)
A polymer of vinyl chloride used to make a diverse range of cost-effective products with various levels of technical performance suited to a wide range of applications. Many of these PVC products are used everyday and include everything from medical devices such as medical tubing and blood bags, to footwear, electrical cables; packaging, stationery, and toys.
PPP
Public Private Partnership
Preparation
A preparation is a mixture or a solution composed of two or more substances. This term is used in the European legislation.
Product Stewardship
Product Stewardship is the responsible and ethical management of the health, safety and environmental aspects of a product throughout its total life cycle. Product Stewardship is Responsible Care applied to products. More…
Propane
A colourless, gaseous hydrocarbon. It is separated in large quantities from natural gas, light crude oil, and oil-refinery gases and is commercially available as liquefied propane or as a major constituent of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). As with ethane, propane is an important raw material for the ethylene petrochemical industry. The decomposition of propane in hot tubes to form ethylene also yields another important product, propylene.
Propene
See propylene
Propylene
Also called propene, a colourless, flammable, gaseous hydrocarbon obtained from petroleum; large quantities of propylene are used in the manufacture of resins, fibres, and plastics (see polyolefins), and numerous other chemical products.
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Propylene glycol
Generic term for a family of propylene glycols, the most important of which is monopropylene glycol.
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Propylene glycol ethers
Propylene glycol ethers are formed from the base catalyzed reaction of propylene oxide with alcohols like methanol, ethanol, propanol, butanol or phenol. For further information please see http://www.ethers-de-glycol.org
Propylene glycol ethers acetates
Glycol ether acetates are clear liquids that often have a pleasant, fruity odour. For further information please see http://www.ethers-de-glycol.org
Propylene oxide (PO)
Propylene oxide is a petrochemical used as a monomer in polymer production and as an intermediate in the synthesis of other substances. Propylene oxide is used as a chemical intermediate in the manufacture of polyurethane foam, in propylene glycol and in other products used in speciality resins and solvents.
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PSPC
Polystyrene Packaging Council (USA)
PVC
See Polyvinyl chloride
Pygas
Pygas, or pyrolysis gasoline, is a naphtha-range product with a high aromatic content, used either for gasoline blending or as a feedstock for a BTX extraction unit. Pygas is produced in an ethylene plant that processes butane, naphtha or gasoil.
Pyrolisis gasoline
See Pygas.

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