Linear Alpha Olefins
The family of straight-chain, terminally unsaturated olefins supplied by Chelora Chemicals — feedstock for polyethylene comonomers, synthetic lubricants and surfactant alcohols — exported from Indonesia as bulk liquid, by carbon-number cut, with full batch documentation on every shipment.
What Linear Alpha Olefins are, and why buyers source them
A working overview of the product family's chemistry, how different carbon-number cuts serve very different end markets, and the cuts Chelora Chemicals keeps in regular supply.
Linear Alpha Olefins are a family of straight-chain hydrocarbons sharing one structural feature: a carbon-carbon double bond at the very first (alpha) position of an otherwise unbranched chain. That terminal double bond is unusually accessible to a catalyst or reagent compared with an internal double bond buried within the chain, which is what makes the family so broadly useful — the same basic reactivity (coordination insertion, hydroformylation, Friedel-Crafts alkylation) is put to work across a wide and very different set of downstream products, with the specific product determined almost entirely by carbon-chain length.
At room temperature the commercially important cuts, roughly C6 to C20, are colourless liquids, becoming more viscous and developing a progressively higher boiling point as carbon number increases; cuts above roughly C20 become waxy solids at room temperature. They are supplied either as individual, narrowly cut carbon numbers (C6, C8, C10, C12 and so on) or as defined carbon-number ranges, depending on the downstream process.
Where each carbon-number cut fits in the value chain
The lighter cuts, C6 and C8, are the leading comonomers for linear low-density and high-density polyethylene, copolymerised with ethylene to introduce the short-chain branching that controls film and resin properties (we also supply 1-Butene, the C4 member of this same olefin family, as a dedicated product). The C10–C12 cuts are the principal feedstock for polyalphaolefin (PAO) synthetic lubricant base stocks, oligomerised and hydrogenated to give high-viscosity-index synthetic base oils. The C10–C13 cuts are also a major feedstock for linear alkylbenzene (alkylation with benzene) and, via hydroformylation, for detergent-range (oxo) alcohols used in surfactant manufacture. Heavier cuts, C14 to C18 and beyond, find use as drilling-fluid base oils and specialty wax and plasticiser-alcohol intermediates.
Cuts we supply
Chelora Chemicals offers Linear Alpha Olefins across the C6 to C20+ range, as individual carbon-number cuts or as blended ranges to suit the buyer's downstream process. Each cut is supplied with a batch-wise certificate of analysis covering alpha-olefin purity and carbon-number distribution.
How Linear Alpha Olefins are produced
An overview of the production route for orientation purposes. Our manufacturing partners' own process parameters and in-process controls are proprietary and are not disclosed beyond what is needed to interpret the certificate of analysis.
Linear Alpha Olefins are produced predominantly by the catalytic oligomerisation of ethylene: an organoaluminium or other transition-metal catalyst system repeatedly adds ethylene units onto a growing chain, then releases that chain as a terminal (alpha) olefin before another ethylene molecule is added, giving a statistical distribution of even-carbon-number products from C4 through to C30 and beyond in a single reactor system. Because the chain-growth and chain-release steps compete statistically, each batch naturally contains a spread of carbon numbers, following a predictable (often Poisson-like) distribution that the catalyst and reaction conditions are tuned to favour toward the carbon-number range the market most wants.
The mixed oligomerisation product is separated by careful fractional distillation into individual carbon-number cuts or defined ranges, each purified to the alpha-olefin content specification its downstream use requires. A smaller volume of LAO, particularly in the mid-chain range, is also produced by the Fischer-Tropsch process from synthesis gas, and by wax cracking, though ethylene oligomerisation remains the dominant commercial route worldwide.
Industries and processes that use them
Linear Alpha Olefins are consumed across polyethylene comonomer, synthetic lubricant, surfactant and specialty-chemical applications, with the specific carbon number largely determining the end use. The fields below account for most of the demand we see through our export desk.
Polyethylene Comonomers (C6, C8)
Copolymerised with ethylene to introduce short-chain branching in LLDPE and select HDPE grades, controlling density, flexibility and film properties.
Synthetic Lubricant Base Stock (C10–C12)
Oligomerised and hydrogenated to polyalphaolefin (PAO), a high-viscosity-index synthetic base oil used in premium automotive and industrial lubricants.
Surfactant & Detergent-Alcohol Feedstock (C10–C13)
Hydroformylated to oxo-alcohols, or alkylated with benzene to linear alkylbenzene, both feeding the detergent and surfactant industry.
Drilling Fluids & Specialty Intermediates (C14+)
Used as a base oil component in synthetic and invert-emulsion drilling fluids, and as a feedstock for specialty wax and plasticiser-alcohol intermediates.
How the molecules are typically carried forward
The accessible, terminal double bond governs almost all of the family's further reaction chemistry, with carbon-chain length deciding which downstream route is used. Reaction classes below account for most of the ways Linear Alpha Olefins are converted into a finished product.
Coordination Copolymerisation
The terminal double bond of a C6 or C8 cut inserts into a growing polyethylene chain under a Ziegler-Natta or metallocene catalyst, introducing a short-chain branch at each insertion point.
Catalytic Oligomerisation to PAO
A C10 or C12 cut is further oligomerised under cationic or metallocene catalysis, then hydrogenated, to give the branched, highly saturated structure of polyalphaolefin synthetic base oil.
Hydroformylation (Oxo Process)
Reaction with carbon monoxide and hydrogen over a catalyst adds a formyl group across the double bond, which is then hydrogenated to give a detergent-range primary alcohol.
Friedel-Crafts Alkylation of Benzene
A C10–C13 cut reacts with benzene over an acid catalyst, substituting the double bond onto the aromatic ring to give linear alkylbenzene, the feedstock for LAS surfactants.
Linear Alpha Olefins against other olefins and related products we supply
Buyers sourcing LAO cuts often also need the C4 member of the same family, or the aromatic feedstock for alkylbenzene manufacture. A quick reference to what else is on our regular supply list.
| Product | CAS Number | Category | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Linear Alpha Olefins | Varies by carbon number | Olefin family (C6–C20+) | The product on this page — a family of comonomer, synthetic lubricant and surfactant feedstocks. |
| 1-Butene | 106-98-9 | C4 olefin | The C4 member of the same linear alpha-olefin family, supplied as a dedicated product — see its product page. |
| Linear Alkyl Benzene | 67774-74-7 | Alkylaromatic surfactant feedstock | The alkylation product of a C10–C13 LAO cut with benzene — see its product page. |
| Ethylene | 74-85-1 | C2 olefin | The feedstock olefin this entire product family is oligomerised from — see its product page. |
Exact physical constants and purity specifications are confirmed per batch, per carbon-number cut, on the certificate of analysis — treat the notes above as a sourcing guide, not a specification sheet, for products other than the specific Linear Alpha Olefin cut ordered.
Safety classification at a glance
Based on GHS classification as commonly listed for this substance. This is a summary for orientation only — always work from the current safety data sheet supplied with your specific batch.
Flammable liquid (lighter cuts) or combustible liquid (heavier cuts), depending on carbon number.
May be fatal if swallowed and enters airways (longer-chain liquid cuts).
Generally low acute oral and dermal toxicity across the family.
May cause mild skin or eye irritation on direct or prolonged contact.
Chemical-resistant gloves and safety glasses are the baseline for routine handling.
Keep lighter, more flammable cuts away from heat, sparks and open flame.
Warning or Danger, depending on carbon-number cut — refer to the batch MSDS for the specific cut supplied.
Hazard classification across this product family varies meaningfully by carbon-number cut: lighter cuts (C6–C8) are flammable liquids requiring ignition-source control, while heavier cuts carry a lower flammability classification but may present an aspiration hazard if swallowed. All cuts should be handled with chemical-resistant gloves and eye protection as routine practice. Full first-aid, storage, spill and PPE guidance for the specific cut supplied is in the MSDS issued with every shipment, and should be read in full before that material is handled.
Keeping it on spec between delivery and use
General storage guidance for this grade. Site-specific storage rules, segregation requirements and re-test intervals should follow your own EHS procedures and the MSDS issued with your batch.
Store in tightly closed containers, away from heat, sparks, open flame and strong oxidising agents; lighter cuts should be kept in a cool area given their lower flash point. Keep different carbon-number cuts clearly segregated and labelled to avoid cross-contamination during storage and transfer. Re-check alpha-olefin purity and carbon-number distribution on a batch held past its retest date before use.
How it ships from Indonesia
Standard packing and export terms for this product. Confirm exact figures against your order — they vary slightly by destination and quantity.
What travels with every batch
Specification is agreed before the purchase order, not discovered on arrival. Every shipment of Linear Alpha Olefins leaves with a documented, checkable paper trail.
Certificate of Analysis
Batch-wise assay, colour and key physical constants, issued against the agreed specification so your QC team can check it, not just file it.
Safety Data Sheet
GHS-format SDS in English covering hazard classification, handling, storage, first-aid and spill response for the exact grade shipped.
Technical Data Sheet
Reference physical and chemical properties, recommended storage and typical applications, for internal circulation to your process or R&D teams.
Certificate of Origin
Confirms Indonesian origin for customs clearance and any preferential-duty claim at your destination port.
Dangerous Goods Declaration
UN packing group, classification and shipper's declaration prepared ahead of loading so documentation never holds up customs.
Third-Party Inspection
Independent pre-shipment inspection and re-sampling can be arranged on request, at your cost, for buyers who require it as a matter of policy.
Frequently asked questions
What buyers most often ask our sales desk about this grade.
01What are Linear Alpha Olefins used for?+
02What is the CAS number of Linear Alpha Olefins?+
03How are Linear Alpha Olefins produced?+
04What cuts does Chelora Chemicals supply?+
05Are Linear Alpha Olefins hazardous?+
06Why does the same base chemistry serve such different end markets?+
07What packing options are available?+
08How long does delivery take?+
09Can I get a sample before placing a bulk order?+
10Do you supply the C4 member of this family and the downstream LAB product as well?+
Need Linear Alpha Olefins on spec, on time?
Send us your required carbon-number cut, purity, quantity, packing preference and destination port. Our desk quotes most enquiries within one working day.