Union Carbide chemicals and polymers

Union Carbide is a name synonymous with the birth of the modern petrochemical industry. Founded in 1917 through a massive merger of several companies including the National Carbon Company and Linde Air Products, the company pioneered the economical production of ethylene from natural gas liquids. For much of the 20th century, it was a diversified industrial giant, producing everything from consumer goods like Eveready batteries and Glad bags to specialized chemicals for the aerospace and automotive sectors.

The brand's history is marked by significant industrial milestones as well as some of the world's most notable industrial disasters, including the Hawks Nest Tunnel disaster and the 1984 Bhopal disaster in India. These events led to massive restructuring and the eventual divestment of its household consumer brands. In 2001, Union Carbide was acquired by Dow Chemical, transforming it into a wholly owned subsidiary. Today, the Union Carbide brand operates as a part of Dow’s global materials science portfolio, with manufacturing facilities located primarily in the United States and various international locations to serve global industrial markets.