Sibur-Khimprom's three basic product groups are butanol and 2-ethylhexanol, ethylene and propylene, ethylbenzene, styrene and polystyrene. These are processed into plastic materials, paints and varnishes, and various products of organic synthesis.

The technological chain proceeds from liquefied hydrocarbon gases through ethylene, propylene, butyl alcohols and ethylbenzene to styrene and, finally, to the production of Alphapor™ expandable polystyrene.

Alphapor™, licensed by the Austro-Norwegian Sunpor company, is the first such product in Russia to comply with European fire safety, grain composition, density and mechanical property standards. It has many industrial applications, including energy-efficient building insulation, permanent shuttering, and household appliance and foodstuff packaging. Alphapor™ insulation saves up to 40% of energy. The grades of expandable polystyrene used for building thermal insulation contain fire-retardant additives as a standard.

The second production line of Alphapor™ will launch on Oct. 30. It will bring the yearly production capacity up to 100,000 tonnes and complete the "styrene chain", comprising ethylbenzene and styrene production, which has cost investors over 8.0 billion roubles.