Table 2.
Resin types and plastic demand distribution in 2019 (elaborated from [44]).
| Resin Type | Acronym | Applications | 2019 EU Demand Distribution (Mass %) | Chemical Structure |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thermoplastics | Polypropylene | PP | Food packaging, sweet and snack wrappers, hinged caps, microwave containers, pipes, automotive parts, bank notes, etc. | 19.4 | –[CH2-CH(CH3)]n– |
| Low-Density Polyethylene | LDPE | Reusable bags, trays and containers, agricultural film, food packaging film, etc. | 17.4 | –(CH2-CH2)n– | |
| High-Density Polyethylene | HDPE | Toys, milk bottles, shampoo bottles, pipes, houseware, etc. | 12.4 | –(CH2-CH2)n– | |
| Polyvinyl Chloride | PVC | Window frames, profiles, floors, wall covering, pipes, cable insulation, garden hoses, inflatable pools, etc. | 10 | –(CH2-CHCl)n– | |
| Polyethylene Terephthalate | PET | Bottles for water, soft drinks, juices, and cleaners; food packaging; textiles; etc. | 7.9 | –[CO(CH2)4CO-OCH2CH2O]n– | |
| Polystyrene | PS + Expanded polystyrene (EPS) | Food packaging (diary, fishery), building insulation, electrical and electronic equipment, inner liner for fridges, eyeglass frames, etc. | 6.2 | –[CH2-CH(C6H5)]n– | |
| Other Thermoplastics | ABS, PBT, PC, Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), PMMA. | Hub caps (ABS), optical fibers (PBT), eyeglasses lenses, roofing sheets (PC), touch screens (PMMA), cable coating in telecommunications (PTFE), and many other applications in aerospace, as well as medical implants, surgical devices, membranes, valves and seals, protective coatings, etc. | 11.3 | Many formulations | |
| Thermosets | Polyurethane | Polyurethane (PUR) | Building insulation, pillows, mattresses, insulating foams for fridges, etc. | 7.9 | –[R-OCO-NH-R2-NH-CO-O]n– |
| Other Thermosets 1 |
Phenol formaldehyde resins (PF), urea–formaldehyde (UF) |
Decorative laminates, textiles, paper, foundry sand molds, foam insulation, paints, coatings, adhesives, etc. | 7.5 | - | |
1 Includes other thermosets such as phenolic resins, epoxide resins, melamine resins, urea resins, and others.