Mitsui produces new polyolefin composite

Japan’s Mitsui Chemicals has succeeded in creating unique composite materials with non-polar and polar segments. The innovative materials, offering hydrophobic and hydrophilic functions, have potential as additives that could enable the manufacture of high-performance products. The Tokyo-based company plans to propose possible applications for the materials to customers, targeting their commercial use. Mitsui managed to chemically couple non-polar and polar segments by combining an internally developed reactive polyethylene with polyethylene glycol, thus giving the non-polar polyolefin the characteristics of a polar polymer such as polyamide or polyimide. (December 4, 2008)