The progress in the technological advancement of polyolefins in China since 2024

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In January 2002, a research team from the University of Science and Technology of China made significant progress in the development of functionalized polyolefin materials capable of responding to multiple stimuli; these materials exhibit photochromic, thermochromic, and mechanochromic properties as well as shape memory capabilities. In March 2024, the team led by Academician Tang Yong and Researcher Gao Yanshan published a study in Nature Communications in which they achieved the synthesis of recyclable polyolefin materials through de novo design using monomers such as ethylene; this represents a significant breakthrough in addressing one of the major challenges in the field of polymers. In April 2024, Dongming Sinopec Fuel Petrochemical Co., Ltd. had its \"5,000 tons/year vinyl polyolefin elastomer pilot project\" registered, marking Dongming Petrochemical as one of the companies involved in the development of the E-POE industry. The E-POE process is a cost-effective technique for producing POE, and it holds promise for achieving domestic substitution as well as technological advancement. In May 2024, Sinopec News reported that the innovation team focused on olefin solution polymerization technology at Sinopec’s Beijing Research Institute of Chemical Technology successfully developed polyolefin elastomers (POE) with independent intellectual property rights owned by Sinopec, as well as a complete set of technologies and products for the homogeneous bulk polymerization of polybutene-1. The team has made innovations in catalytic systems, polymerization processes and equipment, as well as polymer products. Corresponding pilot and industrial demonstration plants have been built at Maoming Petrochemical and Zhenhai Refining & Chemical. In May 2024, Dushanzi Petrochemical successfully developed a new series of polyolefin elastomers. This marked a major breakthrough in China, as it was the first time that the technology for producing polyolefin elastomers via the gas-phase process had been realized. The key performance indicators of this product are on par with those of similar modified and photovoltaic polyolefin elastomers (POE) available in the market, marking the first breakthrough in China in terms of technology for producing polyolefin elastomers via the vapor phase method. In June 2024, a research team from the Shanghai Advanced Institute of the Chinese Academy of Sciences made significant progress in the Fertro synthesis for olefin production (FTO) technology. They developed metal Ru nanocatalysts regulated by alkali metals, which significantly increased the yield of olefins while reducing the formation of by-products such as methane and CO2. This technological innovation is of great significance in addressing China’s high dependence on imported α-olefins. On June 29, 2024, the first phase of Wanhua Chemical’s new materials division’s 200,000 tons per year POE production facility achieved full operational capability, and qualified products were produced on that day; this marked the successful, high-quality commissioning of China’s first large-scale POE production plant developed through independent research and development! In August 2024, CNPC launched a new project to produce high-end polyolefins such as POE at a capacity of 100,000 tons per year. This project will utilize the ethylene resources from the coastal refining and chemical plants within CNPC’s network to manufacture new materials including POE, FDPE, EPDM, and 1-hexene/1-octene. The technology used is primarily developed by CNPC itself, and it is intended to replace imported high-end materials such as POE, POP, and EPDM. In June 2025, the EPOE production process technology jointly developed by Zhongke Keler and Beiyou Engineering passed expert evaluation. By utilizing an original nickel-based catalyst and a solution polymerization process, this project successfully developed a set of technologies for vinyl polyolefin elastomers, which are the first of their kind in the world. This represents China’s first major technological breakthrough in the field of high-end polyolefin materials on a global scale. On June 13, 2025, the National Key Laboratory of Polyolefin Catalysis Technology and High-Performance Materials, with Shanghai Research Institute of Chemical Industry Co., Ltd. and Shanghai Jiao Tong University as its host institutions, held its kick-off meeting and Management Committee meeting in Shanghai. In July 2025, according to data from Qichacha, Wanhua Chemical filed an international patent application titled “An ethylene/α-olefin random copolymer for photovoltaic adhesive films and its applications”. The patent application number is PCT/CN2024/092542, and the international publication date was July 24, 2025. Overall, from January 2024 to August 2025, the technological advancement in China’s polyolefin industry showed the following characteristics: accelerated development toward higher performance and differentiation. Advances in domestic production technologies for high-performance polyolefins such as POE, ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene, and transparent polypropylene continued to be made, with numerous projects moving from pilot scale to industrial production in an effort to replace imports and meet the demands of sectors such as new energy and high-end equipment. Equal emphasis on green low-carbon development and sustainable development: Technology research and development focuses not only on product performance but also increasingly on green production processes, in line with the \"dual carbon\" goals. Increased awareness of intellectual property layout: Enterprises are actively pursuing patent filings both domestically and internationally to safeguard their core technologies and enhance their international competitiveness. Deep integration of industry, academia, and research: As evidenced by various breakthroughs, the collaboration between enterprises, research institutes, and universities is a key force in advancing technology from the laboratory to industrial application.