INEOS Group Businesses INEOS Oligomers Markets

markets

overview

Our markets include:

  • Cosmetic and Pharmaceutical
  • Automotive
  • Coatings, Adhesives, Paper, Paint and Ink
  • Chemical Intermediates
  • Oilfield Drilling

Read on below for more information.

Cosmetic and Pharmaceutical

Linear alpha olefins (LAOs) are used to make a variety of surfactants and detergents that are the basis for shampoos, liquid hand soaps and dishwashing liquids:

  • Panalane® hydrogenated polybutenes are bright, clear, viscous liquids with outstanding feel, waterproofing properties and moisturising ability. This makes them ideal for use in cosmetics, sunscreens, lip preparations, eye shadow, stick and roll-on deodorants, creams and lotions.
  • Silkflo® hydrogenated didecene and polydecenes cosmetic oils are clear, bright, high purity hydrocarbon liquids with a unique, non oily feel that sets them apart from mineral oils and similar products. Silkflo polydecenes are the natural choice for moisturising lotions; non-oily emollient bars, conditioning face creams, oil-in-water moisturising and cleansing creams, water-in-oil cleansing creams, night-time lotions, water-resistant lotions, baby lotions and cationic lotions.
  • INEOS Isoalkanes are widely used in cosmetics and personal care applications where high spreadability, quick-dry, fast penetration of active ingredients, non-greasy feel and long-term formulation stability are a must. Isododecane is used in cosmetics: eye shadows, mascaras, lipsticks, lip glosses and skin creams. Isohexadecane is an important emollient in skin and hair care products, valued by consumers for the light, non-greasy feel it leaves on the skin, and by the formulator for its ability to produce robust, chemically stable emulsions.

Automotive

Lubricants

INEOS Oligomers Automotive MarketsIn engine oils, chemical derivatives of Indopol® polybutenes can be used as dispersants to control deposits and prevent oil thickening and sludge formation. These dispersant additives have environmental benefits, since they allow longer oil drain intervals and can improve fuel economy.

Linear alpha olefins (LAOs) and Isoolefins like Diisobutylene (DIB) are used to make a range of lubricant additives and industrial fluids. Isoalkanes are used as lubricants in metal working fluid applications.

Synthetic motor oils based on polyalpha olefins (PAOs) from INEOS Oligomers reduce engine wear and extend the drain intervals as compared to conventional petroleum oils. PAOs are also used in automatic transmission fluids and in high performance industrial lubricants.

Coatings, Adhesives, Paper, Paint and Ink

INEOS Oligomers manufactures a range of products used in surface technologies that include industrial coatings, decorative paints, printing inks, adhesives and sealants. Polybutenes from INEOS Oligomers are also used to manufacture caulks, sealants and a range of adhesives.

Linear alpha olefins (LAOs) are key chemical intermediates for a variety of market applications. The heavier molecular weight ranges, C12 to C26 LAOs are used as intermediates for a variety of market applications including surfactants, detergents and paper sizing. Consumers see these LAO-based products in shampoos, liquid hand soaps, dishwashing liquids and paper products.

View our full adhesives application page for the full benefits and advantages of our product offering.

Chemical Intermediates

INEOS Oligomers Chemical Intermediates MarketsPackaging, Lubricants, Rubber, Tyres & Agrochemicals

Linear alpha olefins (LAOs) are key chemical intermediates for a variety of market applications:

  • The lower carbon number C6 and C8 LAOs are primarily used as comonomers in a wide range of polyethylene applications, such as flexible packaging, rigid packaging and pipes. 
  • The C10 to C14 LAOs are made into polyalpha olefin (PAO) synthetic lubricants used in passenger car, heavy duty motor and gear oils. 
  • The heavier molecular weight range C12 to C26 LAOs are used as intermediates in a variety of market applications including surfactants, detergents, lubricant additives and paper sizing.

Consumers see these LAO-based products in shampoos, liquid hand soaps, dishwashing liquids, synthetic motor oils, paper products, trash bags, milk bottles and various other plastic products around us.

  • Diisobutylene (DIB) is an important intermediate in the synthesis of Octylphenols, Octylsilanes, Octylthiols and Isononanoyl derivatives which have multiple uses in for example the production of lubricants, silicones, oxidation inhibitors, anti-wear additives, emulsion paints and rubber processing chemicals like the tackifiers used in the car tyre industry.
  • Triisobutylene (TIB) can be used in the production of many chemicals like Dodecylphenol, Tridecyl alcohol, Dodecyl succinic anhydrides, Branched Dodecylbenzene derivatives as well as Tertiary-dodecyl mercaptans.
  • Isoamylene is a key building block for many speciality chemical intermediates. It is used in the synthesis of fragrances, fungicides, herbicides, disinfectants, growth regulators, organic peroxides, UV stabilizers or phenolic resins.
  • Methylpropadiene is a rare chemical used to control the structure of butadiene rubbers. It can also be used in the synthesis of fine chemicals like flavour and fragrances, and pharmaceuticals.

Oilfield Drilling

Oilfield Chemicals produced by INEOS Oligomers offer a range of alpha olefin based drilling products to the oilfield drilling arena which include linear alpha olefins (LAO), internal olefins (IO), olefin blends and polyalpha olefins under the Amodrill® trade name.

These clear, colourless, water-white mobile olefin LAO and IO liquids have been used in marine drilling environments for more than a decade, and for several years for onshore drilling. Low density Amodrill® LAO fluids have led to improved penetration rates for onshore wells.

These products offer a number of positive environmental attributes, including:

  • Reduced exposure to fugitive emissions of aromatic compounds vs. diesel or mineral oil materials
  • Low volatility
  • Flash points above 100°C
  • Lower odour than diesel oil
  • Anaerobic biodegradation in marine environments
  • Low toxicity to both water column and sea floor invertebrates
  • Rapid biodegradation in soil
  • Low toxicity to bacteria, plants and worms in soil