cross-linked polyethylene (xlpe) has a wide range of uses and the industry has development potential

cross-linked polyethylene (xlpe) refers to a material that uses cross-linking technology to build chemical chain bridges between polyethylene molecules so that the molecules cannot be displaced, thereby improving its overall performance. cross-linked polyethylene has mechanical properties, heat resistance, chemical resistance and insulation, and is widely used in foam products, pipes, wires and cables and other fields.

cross-linked polyethylene usually uses high-density polyethylene as the main raw material, which is cross-linked and modified through physical or chemical methods, and then cross-linked polyethylene is produced. physical method, also known as physical cross-linking method, refers to the use of high-energy rays or γ-rays to irradiate high-density polyethylene to finally obtain cross-linked polyethylene with a certain degree of cross-linking; chemical methods include silane cross-linking and peroxide cross-linking and azo cross-linking refers to the use of chemical cross-linking agents to cross-link and modify high-density polyethylene to finally produce finished products.

the main application areas of cross-linked polyethylene include petrochemical industry, construction, heating systems, power systems, etc. cross-linked polyethylene pipes and cross-linked polyethylene cable materials are its end products. compared with ordinary plastic pipes, cross-linked polyethylene pipes have the advantages of corrosion resistance, good heat resistance, high creep strength, non-toxicity, and good pressure resistance. they are regarded as a new generation of green pipes and can be used as fluids in the petroleum industry. delivery pipelines, household water heater system piping, etc. cross-linked polyethylene cable material has the advantages of wear resistance, high insulation resistance, lightweight, etc., and is mainly used as covering material for wires and cables.

according to the “2023-2027 cross-linked polyethylene (xlpe) industry in-depth market research and investment strategy suggestions report released by the industrial research center ” shows that the global cross-linked polyethylene market size will reach us$4.18 billion in 2021, a year-on-year increase of 9.1%. the united states, belgium, japan and other countries dominate the global cross-linked polyethylene market. polyone of the united states, chemical company of the united states (), solvay of belgium, and ube industries of japan are the world’s leading cross-linked polyethylene companies. the above four companies it occupies nearly 50% of the global cross-linked polyethylene market.

my country is the world’s largest consumer of cross-linked polyethylene. due to technical barriers, cross-linked polyethylene for ultra-high voltage cables is highly dependent on the import market. there are many cross-linked polyethylene manufacturers in my country, mainly producing mid- to low-end products. zhejiang wanma polymer materials, shanghai kaibo special cable materials, and jiangsu dewei new materials are the main suppliers of cross-linked polyethylene in my country. among them, zhejiang wanma polymer materials accounts for nearly 30% of the chinese market.

industry analysts said that cross-linked polyethylene has excellent performance and wide range of uses. as the concept of environmental protection continues to deepen, as a non-toxic material, its market space will be further expanded. cross-linked polyethylene is mainly used as cable materials and pipes. with the rapid development of nstream industries, its market demand will continue to grow. overall, my country’s cross-linked polyethylene industry has great development potential.