Ethylene
The simplest olefin and the single largest-volume organic chemical produced worldwide — supplied by Chelora Chemicals as polymer-grade gas for polyethylene, ethylene oxide and the wider vinyl chain — exported from Indonesia by pressurised cylinder, ISO tank or pipeline with full batch documentation on every shipment.
What Ethylene is, and why buyers source it
A working overview of the compound's chemistry, its position as the base building block of the entire olefins industry, and the grade Chelora Chemicals keeps in regular supply.
Ethylene is the simplest alkene: two carbon atoms joined by a carbon-carbon double bond, each carrying two hydrogens. That double bond is the whole story of its chemistry — it is an electron-rich, reactive site that readily undergoes addition polymerisation, oxidation and electrophilic addition, which is exactly what makes ethylene the most versatile and highest-volume building block in the entire petrochemical industry.
At room temperature and atmospheric pressure it is a colourless, flammable gas with a faint sweet odour. It is transported and stored either as a compressed gas in cylinders and tube trailers or as a refrigerated/pressurised liquid in cryogenic vessels and pipelines, since cooling below −103.7°C or pressurising it liquefies the gas for denser, more economical transport.
Where it fits in the value chain
Ethylene's single largest end use, by a wide margin, is polymerisation to polyethylene (LDPE, LLDPE and HDPE), the most widely produced plastic in the world, used across packaging film, containers, pipe and wire insulation. Beyond polyethylene, ethylene is oxidised to ethylene oxide (the precursor to ethylene glycol for polyester fibre and PET, and to a wide range of surfactants and glycol ethers), alkylated with benzene to ethylbenzene for styrene/polystyrene, chlorinated to ethylene dichloride for PVC, and oligomerised to linear alpha-olefins used as polyethylene comonomers and in detergent and lubricant chemistry.
Grade we supply
Chelora Chemicals offers Ethylene in polymer grade (99.9%+ purity), suited to polyethylene polymerisation and the full range of oxidation, alkylation and chlorination chemistry described above. The grade is supplied with a batch-wise certificate of analysis.
How Ethylene is 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.
Ethylene is produced almost exclusively by steam cracking: a hydrocarbon feedstock — ethane, propane, naphtha or gas oil, depending on regional feedstock economics — is diluted with steam and passed through tubular furnace coils at 750–950°C for a fraction of a second, long enough to crack the carbon-carbon bonds of the feedstock into smaller olefins without allowing them to recombine or decompose further. The hot cracked gas is rapidly quenched to stop the reaction, then compressed and sent through a long cryogenic distillation train (the 'cold train') that separates the mixed product into purified ethylene, propylene, mixed C4s, pyrolysis gasoline and fuel gas.
Feedstock choice shapes the product slate: cracking light feeds such as ethane gives a high ethylene yield with comparatively little propylene, butadiene or aromatics, while cracking heavier feeds such as naphtha or gas oil gives a broader product slate including more propylene, mixed C4 olefins (including isobutylene, 1-butene and 1,3-butadiene) and pyrolysis gasoline rich in benzene and other aromatics — which is why a single steam cracker is typically the common source for several of the products on our olefins and aromatics range.
Industries and processes that use it
Ethylene is consumed overwhelmingly by polyethylene manufacture, with substantial secondary demand from ethylene oxide, styrene and vinyl chloride chemistry. The fields below account for most of the demand we see through our export desk.
Polyethylene Manufacture
Polymerised to LDPE, LLDPE and HDPE, the highest-volume plastic resins in the world, used across packaging film, containers and pipe.
Ethylene Oxide / Glycol Chain
Oxidised to ethylene oxide, the precursor to ethylene glycol for polyester fibre and PET resin, and to a wide range of surfactants.
Ethylbenzene / Styrene Chain
Alkylated with benzene to ethylbenzene, then dehydrogenated to styrene, the monomer for polystyrene and styrenic elastomers.
Vinyl Chloride / PVC Chain
Chlorinated to ethylene dichloride, cracked to vinyl chloride monomer, the building block of PVC.
How the molecule is typically carried forward
The single reactive carbon-carbon double bond governs almost all of this molecule's further reaction chemistry. Reaction classes below account for most of the ways Ethylene is converted into a finished polymer or intermediate.
Addition Polymerisation
The double bond opens under a catalyst (Ziegler-Natta, metallocene or free-radical, depending on resin type) and adds repeatedly to itself, building the long polyethylene chain.
Catalytic Oxidation
Reaction with oxygen over a silver catalyst epoxidises the double bond, giving ethylene oxide.
Friedel-Crafts Alkylation
Reaction with benzene over an acid catalyst substitutes the double bond onto the aromatic ring, giving ethylbenzene.
Oligomerisation
Controlled, catalysed self-addition of a small number of ethylene units gives linear alpha-olefins such as 1-butene and 1-hexene, used as polyethylene comonomers.
Ethylene against other olefins and aromatics we supply
Buyers sourcing ethylene for polymer or petrochemical synthesis often need the co-product olefins or aromatics from the same steam-cracking chain. A quick reference to what else is on our regular supply list.
| Product | CAS Number | Category | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ethylene | 74-85-1 | C2 olefin | The product on this page — the base building block of the polyethylene and glycol chains. |
| Propylene | 115-07-1 | C3 olefin | The co-product olefin from the same steam-cracking and refinery FCC chains — see its product page. |
| 1,3-Butadiene | 106-99-0 | C4 diolefin | A co-product diolefin recovered from the same mixed C4 cracker stream — see its product page. |
| Benzene | 71-43-2 | Aromatic hydrocarbon (BTX) | A co-product aromatic recovered from pyrolysis gasoline in the same cracker — see its product page. |
Exact physical constants and purity specifications are confirmed per batch on the certificate of analysis — treat the notes above as a sourcing guide, not a specification sheet, for products other than Ethylene.
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.
Extremely flammable gas.
Contains gas under pressure; may explode if heated.
Simple asphyxiant in enclosed or poorly ventilated spaces by displacing oxygen.
Keep away from heat, sparks, open flame and all other ignition sources.
Flame-resistant workwear, gas detection and appropriate respiratory protection in confined-space work are the baseline for routine handling.
Handled as a compressed or liquefied gas; standard pressurised-gas handling precautions apply throughout.
Bond and ground all transfer equipment to prevent static discharge during loading and offloading.
Danger — GHS02 flammable and GHS04 gas-under-pressure pictograms apply.
This compound is an extremely flammable gas supplied under pressure, which may explode if heated, and acts as a simple asphyxiant in enclosed spaces by displacing oxygen. It must be handled with ignition-source control, gas detection and grounded/bonded transfer equipment at all times. Full first-aid, storage, spill and PPE guidance is in the MSDS issued with every shipment, and should be read in full before this 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 and handle as a compressed or liquefied gas, in pressure-rated cylinders, tube trailers or cryogenic/ISO tanks, away from heat, sparks, open flame and oxidising gases, with adequate ventilation at all times. Cylinders and pressure vessels should be inspected and re-certified on the schedule required by local pressure-equipment regulations. Re-check purity on any material held beyond its agreed retest interval 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 Ethylene 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 is Ethylene used for?+
02What is the CAS number of Ethylene?+
03How is Ethylene produced?+
04What purity grade does Chelora Chemicals supply?+
05Is Ethylene hazardous?+
06Why does feedstock choice in steam cracking matter to buyers of other products on this site?+
07What packing options are available?+
08How long does delivery take?+
09Can I get a sample before placing a bulk order?+
10Do you supply other olefins as well?+
Need Ethylene on spec, on time?
Send us your required purity, quantity, packing preference and destination port. Our desk quotes most enquiries within one working day.