The use of polymer materials in the textile industry

In the past decades, polymer materials have had many applications in the textile industry. The use of polymers has enabled the production of fibers with various characteristics, such as high thermal resistance, high strength, etc., in this industry.

Polypropylene fibers and granules, polyester fibers, nylon, and acrylic fibers can be mentioned among the synthetic polymers widely used in textile industries.

In the following, we mention the textile industry‘s most widely used grades of polymer materials.

 

A. Polypropylene in textile

Polypropylene fibers, which are prepared through the polymerization of propylene in the form of a linear polymer, are called PP for short and have many applications in the textile industry. The following are the most commonly used grades of polypropylene in the textile industry.

 

1. Polypropylene homopolymer HP 552R

HP552R polypropylene is a homopolymer polypropylene with high flow ability, which is used to produce staple, CF, and BCF fibers. HP552R material is used for medium and high-speed spinning melt.

Although polypropylene homopolymer has higher tensile strength and hardness than polypropylene copolymer, its main weakness is its impact resistance. In fact, polypropylene homopolymer is more fragile than polypropylene copolymer.

• Characteristics of polypropylene 552R: Homogeneity, stable extrusion
• Application of 552R materials: Woven fabrics, diapers, medical hygiene applications, and wet wipes are suitable.

 

2. Polypropylene homopolymer HP 510L

HP 510L polypropylene or 510L material is an extrusion grade homopolymer polypropylene with medium flow ability, which is used to produce belts, monofilaments, films, and sheets. Even though polypropylene homopolymer has higher tensile strength and hardness than polypropylene copolymer, its main weakness is its impact resistance.

Due to its high crystallinity and low impact resistance, polypropylene homopolymer is a very suitable option for textile applications or thin sheets and films. In this application, tensile strength is needed, and weak impact resistance is not an issue.

• Features of polypropylene 510L: Good mechanical properties and flow
• Application of 510L materials: rope, sacks, belts, etc.

 

3. Polypropylene homopolymer C30S

Polypropylene C30S or C30S material is an extrusion grade homopolymer polypropylene with medium flow ability, which is used to produce belts, monofilaments, films, and sheets. Due to its high crystallinity and low impact resistance, polypropylene homopolymer is a very suitable option for textile applications or thin sheets and films.

In this application, tensile strength is needed more, and weak impact resistance is not essential. Films stretched in two directions, and polypropylene fibers and types of sacks and belts are among the applications of polypropylene homopolymer.

• Characteristic of C30S polypropylene: Grade in contact with food, good flow ability, and good processability
• Application of C30S materials: Film thread, sheet

 

 

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The use of polymer materials in the textile industry

 

History of the petrochemical industry of Iran

The idea of ​​creating the petrochemical industry in Iran is more than 50 years old. In the texts and laws of the 1950s, provisions, and terms such as “Chemical industries derived from oil” or “chemicals derived from oil and natural gas” either “gas derivatives” and “chemical fertilizers” were adopted Without the word “petrochemical” being used.

The first article of association of Iran National Oil Company approved on November 26, 1952, mentioned establishing a company named National Iran Oil Company for exploration, extraction, and exploitation such as refining, transportation, export, and distribution of oil and its derivatives.

In the bill of the second construction program, credits for the formation of chemical fertilizer factories were predicted and the first step in the establishment of petroleum chemical industries in Khuzestan was taken in June 1958.

In the report of June 1960 of the Khuzestan Development Program, the title “Petrochemicals” was mentioned for the first time.

At the end of the 1950s, the Ministry of Industries and Mines paid attention to the construction of a chemical fertilizer plant from natural gas in Marvdasht, Fars. In 1958, the contract for the construction of the factory was signed and its implementation was entrusted to “Chemical Fertilizer Company“. This factory was put into operation in 1963.

 

History of the petrochemical industry of Iran

In 1964, the law on the formation of the National Petrochemical Industries Company under the cover of the National Iranian Oil Company and the concentration of all activities related to the creation and development of petrochemical industries in this company was approved. In 1965, the Petrochemical Industries Development Law was also ratified.

The petrochemical industry in Iran has about 9% of the world’s oil reserves and 16% of the world’s gas reserves, due to the use of the country’s relative advantages and the creation of added value, has been the focus of the country’s policymakers and planners since the beginning. Although the development of this industry requires huge capital and educated manpower, its importance in the growth of the national economy has paved the way for the expansion of this industry.

The process of development and evolution of the petrochemical industry in Iran includes six specific stages:

• Genesis (1963)
• Initial expansion (1964 to 1978)
• Recession (1978 to 1988)
• Revival and reconstruction (1989 to 1999)
• Mutation, stabilization, and development (1999 to 2008)
• Privatization and transformation into governance and regulatory organization (2009-till now)

 

 

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History of the petrochemical industry of Iran

 

Granule – classification of granule types

The name granule may have been heard by most of those who work in the plastic and polymer industry. The story started from a place where, with the advancement of technology, various methods and devices were created to produce plastic products, and the question was raised as to what the primary material used in these devices should be.

Among the forms of powder, granule, and flakes, granule has won this competition because of its many advantages. In most production methods, the granule is used as a raw material to produce the final product. But what is granule and what are its advantages? What types are there? How is it produced? If you have questions like this in your mind, stay with us in this article to get the answers to your questions.

 

What is a granule?

The wrong image of granules in the minds of some who have little knowledge of polymer and plastic is that this product is a type of polymer material. As the first and most important point, you should know that granule is not the name of a specific polymer and it is a form of polymer that has changed from a powder state to a granular form (like the image below) and is used in various applications and uses.

The reason for using granules is the ease of use in production; The powders are dispersed in the air, and in addition to the pollution of the workshop environment and the breathing problems they cause, a large amount of material is also wasted, but the granule does not have these problems.

In addition, the system of plastic forming machines is designed in such a way that its raw materials are better in the form of granules. Therefore, manufacturers prefer to use its granular form instead of powder form. To produce polymer products from granules, they must first be melted and then shaped.

 

 

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Granule - classification of granule types

 

Polymer materials in the construction industry

Have you ever wondered what materials are used in different parts of the construction industry? Have you thought about using polymer materials in the construction industry? As a short answer, we can say that nowadays, polymer materials are used in almost all stages of building construction, from under the floor to the top of the roof, and polymers have found their place in the road and construction industries. Polymer materials are used in many cases, such as flooring, wall coverings, insulation, exterior and interior facades, false ceilings, polymer asphalt coatings, polymer concrete coatings, concrete modified with polymers, building adhesives, paints, etc.

Due to their unique advantages, various research is conducted on their application in different sectors, and new achievements of the applications of these materials in this industry are presented every day. In the rest of this article, we will learn about the use of polymer materials in the following cases.

• Application of polymer materials in thermal, moisture, and sound insulation
• Application of polymer materials in pipes
• Application of polymeric materials in concrete
• Application of polymer materials in building stone
• Application of polymer materials in asphalt

 

 

Polymer materials in thermal, moisture, and sound insulation

With the increase of science and the extraordinary progress of technology, heat, sound, and moisture insulation produced with polymer materials is progressing daily. Depending on their type and application, these insulators prevent heat, displacement, convection, moisture, sound, and radiation.

Types of building insulation are a covering of different materials applied on the roof, floor, and walls and cause the absorption or control of environmental noise, preventing heat from entering or leaving the desired building space or sealing the building. It equals the entry of water and humidity into the building.

The use of building insulation increases the life of the building and reduces energy consumption in the building. The insulations used in the construction are used in different types of rolls, panels, and color coating for all residential, commercial, etc., buildings.

Types of building insulation are divided into thermal, moisture, and sound insulation in terms of performance and application, each of which has different styles. Nowadays, polymer materials play a significant role in all types of insulation.

 

 

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Polymer materials in the construction industry

 

Petrochemical Products in Iran

Historically speaking, Iran has always been active in the production of chemical and petrochemical products due to its huge oil and gas resources in its geographical area. Currently, petrochemical products in Iran are known as one of the main sources of income in the country. Chemical fertilizers, plastics, cleaners, bactericides, and acids are among the products produced in this industry. Although a lot of time has passed since the establishment of the petrochemical industry in Iran, this newly emerging industry quickly opened its place among the active industries of Iran.

Today, with 51 active complexes, Iran Petrochemical has the capacity to produce 56 million tons of products annually.

Numerous petrochemical companies were established throughout Iran ascribed to the extensive investments made in the past years in the petrochemical sector and related industries. In this article, we will discuss petrochemical products made in Iran and their different types.

 

 

Types of petrochemical products in general

Generally, we can divide Petrochemical products into 3 categories based on their use:

Basic products: include ethylene, propylene, sulfur, gasoline, ammonia, etc., which form the basis of petrochemical production.

Intermediate products: This category transforms basic products into feed needed to produce final products, such as PVC, ethylene glycol, melamine, etc.

Final products: they are used to make equipment and tools used by industries and the general public service; Such as synthetic fibers, rubber, plastic items, chemical fertilizers, medical devices, etc.

 

Classification of petrochemical products produced in Iran

As you probably are aware, the petrochemical industry is completely dependent on petroleum raw materials as well as natural gas. Crude oil and natural gas are used as raw materials for the production of various fuels, including gasoline and diesel, polymer materials, chemical fertilizers, detergents, paints, and even pharmaceuticals. Hence it is impossible to imagine the world without oil products!

Various and most complex processes are used in the production and manufacture of petrochemical products. According to the report of Iran’s petrochemical industry yearbook, Petrochemical products in Iran can be divided into five main groups:

• Polymer materials (13%)
• Aromatics (7%)
• Chemicals (45%)
• Hydrocarbon materials (24%)
• Chemical fertilizers (11%)

In the following, we will introduce these five groups and explain the subgroups and characteristics of each.

 

 

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Petrochemical Products in Iran

 

Naphtha

Suppose you have a question to know what naphtha is. In that case, we must say that naphtha is one of the most important and widely used fractions of crude oil, and familiarity with the properties and uses of this petroleum fraction is necessary for a process engineer. This article will teach you what you need to know about naphtha.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What is Naphtha?

One of the essential intermediate products of the crude oil refining industry is naphtha. This product is used as feed in petrochemical units, including steam crackers, catalytic conversion, and isomerization. All kinds of naphtha cuts are produced and supplied in refinery processes.

A naphtha is a group of liquid hydrocarbon compounds that are highly volatile and flammable. Naphtha is a general term and refers to the compounds between gas cuts and kerosene in crude oil distillation processes. These compounds make up about 11% of crude oil.

The central part of gas condensate, i.e., fat, collected from the gas well, is also composed of naphtha. This liquid fuel can also be extracted from coal tar. This category of compounds contains 5-12 carbon atoms, which generally include paraffin, olefins, naphthenic, and aromatics. Among these materials, aromatic compounds in naphtha cause a pungent smell that is also very harmful to humans.

 

 

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Naphtha

 

Lubricants

Only a good lubricant (oil, grease, etc.) can guarantee the mechanical equipment. About 55% of equipment breakdowns are due to inappropriate lubricants in the industry. Among the types of these products, we can mention engine oils, silicone, grease, etc., which we will learn more about in the following.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Definition of Lubricants

A substance that can reduce friction, heat, and wear when placed in a layer between solid and semi-solid surfaces is called a lubricant. The definition of lubricant is different in different industries. In simpler terms, it can be said that this material can reduce or prevent problems caused by friction.

A lubricant is a substance that helps reduce friction between surfaces in mutual contact, which ultimately reduces the heat generated when the characters move. It may also transmit power, transport foreign particles, or heat or cool surfaces. The property of reducing friction is known as lubrication.

Each lubricating oil consists of a base material to which various additives are added for the required specifications. This base can be mineral (of petroleum origin) or synthetic (such as polyolefins, polyesters, and polyalkylene glycols). Mineral bases are usually vacuumed distillation products and asphalted residues subjected to solvent extraction, wax removal, and purification.

 

 

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Lubricants

 

Heavy Fuel Oil

The black substance that boiled out of the rocks which called rock oil was used medicinally by the American Indians with consideration of healing power.
Petroleum is a Latin word derived from Petra meaning rock and Oleum meaning oil. This word is used more or less in the same sense as oil.

 

Heavy Fuel oil indicators

Crude oil consists of carbon and hydrogen elements, which is one of the types of hydrocarbons, and it is classified into light and heavy, sour and sweet crude oil based on the hydrocarbon compounds and their sulfur content.

API index is usually used to show the lightness and heaviness of crude oil. Crude oil with an API higher than 30 is called light, 20 to 30 is called medium, and lower than 20 is called heavy fuel oil. There are crude oils with an API greater than 44, such as Ecofisk crude oil, which is called very light.

In this article, we are going to discuss the sale of heavy oil and some key points related to the trade of this type of oil.

 

 

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Heavy Fuel Oil

 

Solvents

Organic solvents have many applications in chemical, metal, and electronic industries, as well as in many consumer products such as coatings or paints. Therefore, they are considered among the most important chemicals.
Choosing quality and cost-effective petrochemical solvents is necessary for the country's industries.

 

 

 

Definition of Solvents

The solvent is derived from the Latin word solvō, meaning to dissolve. In fact, a solvent is a substance that dissolves a solute and thus creates a solution.

A solvent is usually a liquid but can also be a solid, a gas, or a supercritical fluid. When one substance dissolves in another substance, a solution is formed. This is due to the fact that compounds such as sand are not soluble in water. All substances are uniformly distributed at the molecular level in a solution, and no residue remains.

 

 

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Solvents

 

Petrochemical Feedstock

These days, along with submitting the country's budget bill 1401 to the Iranian parliament, terms such as petrochemical or refinery feed rate are often heard. Determining the petrochemical feedstock rate also becomes a challenge for the capital market.
This article will briefly explain what is meant by petrochemical feedstock in these categories. And why is the capital market sensitive to it?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liquid feed and gas feed petrochemicals

Generally, feed here is a material prepared for consumption in raw, intact, modified, or semi-modified form. There are only two types of feed in petrochemicals: gas feed and liquid feed.

In Iran, and especially in the capital market of Iran, most petrochemical companies use gas feed as the raw material for producing their products. The gas feed is divided into two types methane gas feed and ethane gas feed.

Olefins, i.e., ethylene, propylene, polyethylene, and polypropylene, are mainly produced from ethane gas or liquid petroleum products, i.e., naphtha, propane, butane, raffinate, etc. Units such as Jam Petrochemical use mixed feed, i.e., liquid or gas.

But the units whose main products are methanol, ammonia, and urea use more methane gas; Units like Zagros Petrochemical use only gas feed. Some petrochemicals, such as Bandar Imam Petrochemical, use only liquid feed.

 

 

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Petrochemical Feedstock