All Categories
This section provides an overview for styrene as well as their applications and principles. Also, please take a look at the list of 8 styrene manufacturers and their company rankings. Here are the top-ranked styrene companies as of December, 2024: 1.Chevron Phillips Chemical, 2.Americas Styrenics LLC, 3.INEOS.
Table of Contents
Styrene is an aromatic hydrocarbon with the formula C6H5CH=CH2.
It is also known as styrene, phenylethylene, styrene, and cinnamene. It is highly flammable and toxic and should be handled with care.
Styrene is mainly used as a raw material for synthetic resins. It is used in the production of synthetic resins such as polystyrene (PS), ABS resin, AS resin, and unsaturated polyester. Styrene can also be used as a monomer for polymerization, as it easily polymerizes into polystyrene in the presence of heat and catalysts.
In particular, polystyrene resin has a very wide range of applications, including packaging materials for electrical appliances, kitchenware, containers, plastic models, automobiles, various parts of household appliances, and food trays, due to its low cost and good moldability. Depending on the application, polystyrene may be used by itself or in expanded polystyrene (styrene foam).
In addition, styrene is used not only as a raw material for manufacturing styrene butadiene rubber, polystyrene, synthetic resin paints, and FRP, but also for building materials such as adhesives, glues, and heat insulators, as well as dry oils, polyester resins, and ion exchange resins.
A colorless liquid with aromatic properties, it is lighter than water with a specific gravity of 0.9044 and floats on water because it is insoluble in water. It has a flash point of 32°C, a melting point of -30.63°C, a boiling point of 145.2°C, and a refractive index of 1.5439. It is soluble in alcohols and ethers.
Styrene has a structure in which one hydrogen atom of benzene is replaced by a vinyl group. Because of the vinyl group, it is extremely reactive and easily polymerized by heating, light, peroxides, etc. to form polystyrene, which gradually increases in viscosity from a liquid state to a colorless solid state.
The vapor density is 3.6, which is heavier than that of air, and it easily stays in low places to form explosive gas mixtures. When temperatures rise due to sunlight or other factors, it can polymerize, posing a fire or explosion hazard. Therefore, it is recommended to store in a cool and dark place with good ventilation.
Dehydrogenation Method
Styrene is synthesized by dehydrogenating the raw material ethylbenzene at high temperature. The process is carried out under reduced pressure at 550°C or higher using a catalyst consisting mainly of iron oxide. Since this reaction is reversible, Styrene is synthesized by removing the hydrogen produced by the oxidation of ethylbenzene to allow the reaction to proceed.
Another method to synthesize Styrene is to oxidize the hydrogen produced in the reaction, thereby lowering the partial pressure of hydrogen and increasing the temperature in the system due to the heat of reaction, thereby allowing the reaction to proceed.
Halcon Method
This method was developed by Halcon International, Inc. in the U.S. and can synthesize Styrene and propylene oxide from ethylbenzene and propylene. In this method, ethylbenzene is air-oxidized to ethylbenzene hydroperoxide, which reacts with propylene under reaction conditions of 2 to 7 MPa and 100 to 130°C to produce propylene oxide and methylbenzyl alcohol.
Styrene is obtained by catalytic dehydration of the resulting methylbenzyl alcohol using a titanium oxide catalyst. The yield of propylene oxide and Styrene is high, and it is considered an advantageous method for simultaneous synthesis of these two substances.
Styrene is a flammable liquid and has been reported to be a self-reactive chemical. It is also a fire and explosion hazard that can polymerize under the influence of heat, light, oxidants, oxygen, and peroxides.
Harmful by inhalation and may cause skin and eye irritation. Caution should also be exercised with regard to permissible concentrations in the work environment, as long-term or repeated exposure may cause central nervous system and liver damage.
The Ministry of the Environment's Initial Environmental Risk Assessment suggests that there may be health effects if Styrene is inhaled through respiration. When handling, it is recommended that appropriate protective equipment such as protective gloves, impervious protective front coverings, safety glasses or safety goggles, and gas masks for organic gases be used.
*Including some distributors, etc.
Sort by Features
Sort by Area
Chevron Phillips Chemical, established in 2000 through a joint venture between Chevron Corporation and Phillips 66 Company, is an American petrochemical manufacturer based in The Woodlands, Texas. The company serves a wide range of industrial and commercial sectors. In the automotive industry, Chevron Phillips Chemical offers specialty chemicals to enhance lubricant performance in base oils and metalworking fluids, making vehicles lighter, safer, and more comfortable. In the food and agriculture industry, they provide chemical products like ethylene for product packaging and light pyrolysis oil (LPO) that acts as an insecticide to maintain the quality and safety of food and agricultural goods.
Americas Styrenics LLC, founded in the USA in 2008, is a manufacturer of polystyrene and styrene monomers. Its General-Purpose Polystyrene is designed to exhibit purity and active properties, allowing for light transmission and chemical resistance. GPPS finds applications in the medical equipment market, food service packaging, commercial and residential insulation, appliances, and more. Many medical products rely on GPPS due to its optical clarity and ease of sterilization, including tissue culture dishes, pipettes, roller bottles and pharmaceutical containers.. Poly Renew polystyrene is made from recycled content and is used in applications such as meat and fish trays, egg cartons and more.
Westlake Corporation, founded in 1986 with headquarters in the USA, is a global manufacturer of polymers and petrochemicals for the nutrition, healthcare, consumer lifestyle, building, and construction industries. The company's core products include ethylene, styrene, PVC, vinyl chloride monomer (VCM), ethylene dichloride (EDC), and vinyl resins that meet OSHA standards. Westlake Corporation has diversified into two segments: performance and essential materials and housing and infrastructure products. Housing products include pipes, fittings, roofing, architectural stone, and outdoor living products used in residential and commercial construction.
Kanto Chemical Co. Inc., founded in 1944 and headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, is a reagent manufacturer with overseas affiliates in other countries, including China, France, USA, Taiwan, and Malaysia. Its product portfolio includes analytical reagents, ionic liquids, Iodine compounds, ultra-pure chemicals, and water analysis kits. The company is also developing regenerative medicine and genetics reagents and has over 50,000 products. It has several certifications, including ISO 9001, acquired in 1994, making it the first Japanese company in the reagent industry. Other certifications are ISO 14001, ISO 13485, and ISO/IEC 17025.
Denka Company Limited, founded in 1915, is a Japanese chemical manufacturer headquartered in Chuo City, Tokyo. The company offers a range of products made with the technology of fine ceramics and organic fine chemicals, such as adhesives, fluorescent materials, functional films, and heat dissipation materials. They also produce automotive parts, belts, hoses, electric wires and cables, and rubber gloves using chloroprene rubber. Additionally, Denka provides products made of polymer solutions, such as food packaging materials, building materials, and electric home appliances. In 2022, Denka launched the New Business Development to develop products and technologies in ICT and energy, healthcare, and sustainable living.
INEOS, established in 1998 with headquarters in the UK, is a global manufacturer of petrochemicals, specialty chemicals, and oil products, operating over 30 individual business units that have expanded across the chemical and oil and gas industries, with diversification into consumer brands. The company's consumer brands include INEOS Grenadier 4X4 vehicles, INEOS Hygienics, and Belstaff clothing. INEOS Group's oil and gas operations include the long-term extraction of natural gas, the INEOS FPS pipeline, and INEOS Shale for the exploration and extraction of shale. The company's chemical operations include the production of ABS-standard and styrenic specialties, acetic acid, and INEOS Aromatics.
New Process Fibre Company, Inc., established in 1927, is a manufacturer of teflon, nylon, plastic, fiber, and other non-metallic components. The company, based in Greenwood, Delaware, manufactures products for the automotive, military, and defense industries through standard and custom non-metallic component fabrication. Their gaskets, spacers, tags, insulators, and discs are used in processes that require corrosion-resistant and versatile materials. They can also customize products for matching colors, core sizes, materials, and tolerances per customer specifications. New Process Fibre is an ISO 9001-certified manufacturer which earned its certification in 2015.
HELM AG, founded in Hamburg, Germany, in 1900 is an international marketing company for chemicals. The company provides marketing services in Chemicals, Feedstocks and Derivatives, Crop Protection, Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients and Pharmaceuticals and Fertilizers. The company serves markets including Medical, Agriculture, Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology, Chemical and Petrochemical, and food and beverage. The company also provides services such as distribution, logistics, production and project development to scientific, training and technical services.
Ranking as of December 2024
Derivation Method| Rank | Company | Click Share |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chevron Phillips Chemical |
21.1%
|
| 2 | Americas Styrenics LLC |
14.8%
|
| 3 | INEOS |
14.8%
|
| 4 | New Process Fibre Company, Inc. |
13.4%
|
| 5 | WESTLAKE |
10.9%
|
| 6 | KANTO CHEMICAL CO.,INC. |
9.6%
|
| 7 | Denka Company Limited |
8.7%
|
| 8 | HELM AG |
6.8%
|
Derivation Method
The ranking is calculated based on the click share within the styrene page as of December 2024. Click share is defined as the total number of clicks for all companies during the period divided by the number of clicks for each company.Number of Employees
Newly Established Company
Company with a History
*Including some distributors, etc.
*Including some distributors, etc.
| Country | Number of Companies | Share (%) |
|---|---|---|
|
United States of America
|
3 | 42.9% |
|
Japan
|
2 | 28.6% |
|
United Kingdom
|
1 | 14.3% |
|
Germany
|
1 | 14.3% |
