The chemical formula is C2H4. It is a basic chemical raw material for synthetic fibers, synthetic rubber, synthetic plastics (polyethylene and polyvinyl chloride), and synthetic ethanol (alcohol). It is also used to make vinyl chloride, styrene, ethylene oxide, acetic acid, acetaldehyde, and explosives. It can also be used as a ripening agent for fruits and vegetables. It is a proven plant hormone.

Ethylene is one of the world’s largest chemical products. The ethylene industry is the core of the petrochemical industry. Ethylene products account for more than 75% of petrochemical products and occupy an important position in the national economy. The world has used ethylene production as one of the important indicators to measure the level of development of a country’s petrochemical industry.

Application fields

1. One of the most basic raw materials for petrochemical industry.

In terms of synthetic materials, it is widely used in the production of polyethylene, vinyl chloride and polyvinyl chloride, ethylbenzene, styrene and polystyrene, and ethylene-propylene rubber, etc.; in terms of organic synthesis, it is widely used in the synthesis of ethanol, ethylene oxide and ethylene glycol, acetaldehyde, acetic acid, propionaldehyde, propionic acid and its derivatives and other basic organic synthetic raw materials; after halogenation, it can produce vinyl chloride, ethyl chloride, ethyl bromide; after polymerization, it can produce α-olefins, and then produce higher alcohols, alkylbenzenes, etc.;

2. Mainly used as standard gas for analytical instruments in petrochemical enterprises;

3. Ethylene is used as environmentally friendly ripening gas for fruits such as navel oranges, tangerines, and bananas;

4. Ethylene is used in pharmaceutical synthesis and high-tech material synthesis.