PETROCHEMICALS MAKE THINGS HAPPEN

Consumer
electronics

Engine
coolant

Glass
reinforced
plastics

Agrochemicals

Automotive

Automotive,
luggage

Food
packaging

Footwear,
tyres

Sports
equipment

Furniture

Unbreakable
glass

Automotive

Construction

Food,
pharmaceuticals,
cosmetics

Detergents

Disposable
nappies

Electric &
electronic
appliances

Engine
coolant

Medical
equipment

Food
packaging

Textile

Marine
industry,
bathware

Paper

Adhesives

Electric &
electronic
appliances

Coatings,
adhesives,
inks, detergents,
pharmaceuticals,
chemical
synthesis

Paints,
coatings,
textile,
adhesives

Acrylic
paints

Coatings,
adhesives, inks,
detergents,
pharmaceuticals,
chemical
synthesis

Kitchen
appliances

Sportswear

Acrylate
elastomers

PVC plastics

Ethyl
acrylate

Vinyl chloride
monomer

Plastics
Vinyl acetate
monomer

Solvents
Ethyl
acetate

Plasticisers

Superabsorbents

Ethyl
hexanol

Polyacrylate

Ethyl
amines

PMMA

Isobutyl
acetate

n-Butylacetate

Fuel

Engine
lubricants

Detergents,
agrochemicals

Pharmaceuticals

Building &
construction

Automotive

Furniture

Home
furnishings,
sports
equipment

Gardening
implements

Electrics &
electronics

Sports
equipment

Automotive

CDs

Detergents

Acrylic
esters

MMA

Solvents

Coatings, inks,
adhesives for
professional use,
chemical
processing

Sports
equipment

Building &
construction

Thermal
insulation

Textile

Fuel

Higher olefins

Isobutanol

Acrylic acid

Isophorone

MDI
Methyl diphenyl diisocyanate

Isopropyl
acetate

Acetone

Acetic acid

MTBE (Fuel ether)

Alkylbenzene

n-Butenes
n-Butanol

Food
packaging

Surfactants

Solvents
Synthetic
rubbers

Printing
inks, paints,
lacquers,
adhesives

Unbreakable
glass

Chewing
gum

www.petrochemistry.eu

Phenolic
resins

Nylon

Polyurethane

Cyclohexane
Polyethylenes
(LDPE, HDPE,
LLDPE)

Polypropylene

Ethylene
dichloride

Ethyl alcohol

Acrylic acid

Isopropanol

Butyraldehyde

Butyl
rubbers

Acetaldehyde

Polycarbonate

Solvents

Bisphenol A

MTBE
(Fuel ether)

Polyisobutylene

Formaldehyde

Epoxy
resin

PMMA
Chemical intermediates

Phenolic resins

Unsaturated
polyesters
ABS, SAN
plastics

Solvents

SBR
synthetic
rubber

DEA

Polystyrene
plastics

MEA

Styrene

TEA

Ethanolamines

(Mono) ethylene
glycol

Ethylene glycol
ethers

Solvents

Bisphenol A

NBR
Synthetic rubber
Diethylene glycol

ABS
plastics

SAN
plastics

Acrylic
fibres

Phenol

Propylene
glycol ether
acetates

MMA

Acetone

Acetone

(Mono)
Propylene
glycol

Propylene
Glycols
(di-, tri-, )

Propylene glycol
ethers

Methyl
methacrylate
(MMA)

Polyurethane

Polyols

NBR
Nitrite
synthetic
rubber

SBR
Styrene
butadiene
rubber

Polystyrene
plastics

Flexible PVC

ABS/SAN

SBR
Styrene
butadiene rubber

Unsaturated
polyester

Styrene
Ethylbenzene

Ethylene oxide

Acrylonitrile

Cumene

Propylene oxide

Butadiene

Benzene
Propylene

Polyurethane

TDI
Toluene
diisocyanate

Ethylbenzene

Ethylene

Polymethyl methacrylate
(PMMA)

Cumene

PMMA
Polyester
resins

Phenolic resins

Phenol

Isobutylene

Solvents

Ethylene
glycol ethers
acetates

Polyesters

Epoxy
resin

Polycarbonate

MMA

Solvents

Polyester

Plasticisers

Paraxylene

Orthoxylene

Toluene

C4 stream

Xylenes

AROMATICS

OLEFINS
Pygas
STEAM CRACKING

STEAM CRACKING

CATALYTIC REFORMING

NAPHTHA

ETHANE

PROPANE DEHYDROGENATION

STEAM CRACKING

PROPANE/LPG

METHANE
NGLs

REFINING

ASSOCIATED GASES

CRUDE OIL

PROCESSING

NATURAL GAS

Methanol

www.petrochemistry.eu

Discover the world of petrochemicals

The advances of chemistry depend on
products such as ethylene, propylene,
butadiene and benzene. These are the
raw materials of the petrochemical
industry, which turns them into products
used in 95 % of all manufactured goods.
Petrochemicals enhance product
lifecycles and increase the durability,
flexibility and convenience of products,
making materials more lightweight
and efficient. Such innovations may
be found in renewable energy, such as
windmills and solar panels, insulation
materials, healthcare, protection and
safety, long lasting infrastructures used
in construction and many more.
The Petrochemicals Europe flowchart
traces the main steps from raw materials
and feedstocks through to petrochemical
products, their derivatives and everyday
products. Only a few of these are
featured here, along with their end
applications, as they are too numerous
and their processes too complex.

But there is much more to petrochemicals.

Visit www.petrochemistry.eu, the gateway
to the world of petrochemicals online. And
take a tour of our interactive flowchart
on www.petrochemistry.eu/flowchart.
Choose and click on the petrochemical
product of your choice and its derivatives
to find your way on the path from raw
materials to everyday products.
Well be happy to send you additonal
copies of this flowchart and receive your
feedback or answer your questions.

Flowchart poster
Discover the path
from raw materials
to everyday products

Petrochemicals Europe
c/o Cefic
Avenue E. Van Nieuwenhuyse 4
B - 1160 Brussels, Belgium
Tel. +32 2 676 72 57
Fax +32 2 676 72 16
info@petrochemistry.eu
@EUPetro

The flowchart has been produced by Petrochemicals Europe, the voice of the European petrochemical industry.
Petrochemicals Europe is an essential forum for anybody with an interest in our industry, ie regulators, legislators,
press, scientific and educational communities, financial experts and consumers organisations. Its vision is for the
European petrochemical industry to be recognised as the foundation of future economic success in Europe, fuelling
innovation, manufacturing and employment. Petrochemicals Europe brings together about 90 member companies
and is part of Cefic, the European Chemical Industry Council.

WE BUILD THE FUTURE