Ethylene compressor from the first full scale polyethylene (polythene) plant at Wallerscote

This is one of the original machines used at the world’s first polyethylene plant, Wallerscote, operated by ICI.

It was in the laboratories at Wallerscote that polyethylene was accidently discovered in 1933, following high-pressure experiments. Much experimentation followed and ICI had perfected the manufacture of polyethylene by 1938. It had immediate wide-ranging applications, notably being used for insulating submarine and radar cables during the Second World War.

The machine works by compressing ethylene gas from a pressure of 250kg/sq cm to 1500 kg/sq cm (10 tons per square inch). Ethylene was delivered from both sides of the compressor at 130 ‘b/hour to a high-pressure vessel in which 15% of the ethylene was converted to polythene.