**Abstract**

Naphtha is one of the crude oil distillation products, bringing almost the lowest value-addition to crude oil, compared to other refinery products such as liquid petroleum gas, gasoline, and diesel. However, Naphtha can be converted to one of the highest value products at the end of the value chain, i.e., polyolefins. Although the production of conventional commodity polyolefins from crude oil, is considered as one of the final products in alkenes' value chain, there are specialty polyolefins with higher values. Specialty polyolefins are small volume, high-performance thermoplastics with high-profit margins compared to traditional commodity polyolefins. Recently, some special purpose functionalized polyolefins have been developed as efficient substituents for high-performance engineering thermoplastics. Polyolefins are exploited as cost-effective platforms to produce these functionalized thermoplastics. They are promising candidates for replacing high-performance polymers with high-cost raw materials and elaborate production processes. So, functional polyolefins have introduced a new paradigm in the production of high-performance thermoplastics, extending the alkenes' value chain and increasing profitability. High-performance specialty polyolefins may find exceptional markets in niche applications. In this chapter, the commercial specialty and functional polyolefins' current situation and prospects are reviewed.

**Keywords:** Alkenes' value chain, specialty polyolefins, niche markets, functional polyolefins, single-site catalysts, insertion polymerization

### **1. Introduction**

The value chain notion refers to all value-creating activities, potential developments, and opportunities in industrial production, from the raw materials to the goods delivered to the final consumers. It is an appropriate base for the creation of strategic niches. The concept of niches corresponds to innovative studies and is used in different ways. Commonly, it is related to the emerging new technology-based markets. New strategic niches are the main origins of pioneering innovations. The path-breaking works deviate from the dominant routes because of their production technology and markets. Although strategic niches may lack well-defined market in their emerging phase, some actors supply the essential resources with high expectations about the technology economy and sustainability.

The sustainability transition and radical shifts toward the value-added products in the petrochemical industry are hindered by difficulties in the production

#### **Figure 1.**

*Olefin-based functional co- or terpolymers as cost-effective high-quality substituents for high-performance thermoplastics.*

trajectory due to the lack of well-established value chains. Besides the separated links, the lack of cross-chain interactions and connections between the suppliers and end-users hamper the petrochemical industry performance, too.

This chapter aims to evaluate how specialty polyolefins may accelerate innovative and sustainable research in industrial and/or academic areas. **Figure 1** demonstrates the thermoplastics triangle and the state of functional polyolefins, to enlighten the techno-scientific importance of emerging new products and their added value.
