Polyethylene (PE)

What Does Polyethylene (PE) Mean?

Polyethylene (PE) is an organic polymer made by the polymerization of monomer subunits. The chemical formula of polyethylene is (C₂H₄)_n. Polyethylene is a combination of similar polymers of ethylene with different values of n. A typical polyethylene molecule can contain more than 500 ethylene subunits.

Polyethylene has shown good mechanical, thermal, chemical, electrical and optical properties. It is cheap, flexible, and electrically and chemically resistant.

Polyethylene is the most widely used plastic in the world. It can be processed into any shape for flexible or hard and strong products. It is used for lining tubes and tanks, and to wrap pipes to protect against corrosive materials.

Corrosionpedia Explains Polyethylene (PE)

Polyethylene (PE) is a light, versatile synthetic resin produced from the polymerization of ethylene. It is a member of the important family of polyolefin resins. Polyethylene is a thermoplastic polymer. Polyethylene has very distinct properties:

• Light weight
• Long lasting
• Low friction
• Low cost
• Flexible
• Electrically resistant
• Sun resistant
• Corrosion resistant

Polyethylene doesn't biodegrade easily. It can remain in a landfill for hundreds of years. It is easily recycled and polyethylene scrap can be melted down and reused.

Polyethylene is a good insulator and resists caustic materials. It is almost unbreakable. It is reliable and usable under any environmental conditions from extreme hot to extreme cold.

Polyethylene is classified according to its density and branching. The three main types are:

1. High-density polyethylene (HDPE). HDPE has a low degree of branching. It is the sturdiest and most inflexible type. It has high tensile strength and is used to produce milk jugs, detergent bottles, butter tubs, garbage containers and water pipes.
2. Low-density polyethylene (LDPE). LDPE has a high degree of short- and long-chain branching, which give it a lower tensile strength and increased ductility. This gives molten LDPE unique and desirable flow properties. It is used for both rigid containers and plastic film applications, such as plastic bags and film wrap.
3. Linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE). LLDPE has a substantially linear polymer with significant numbers of short branches. It has higher tensile strength than LDPE, and it exhibits higher impact and puncture resistance than LDPE. LLDPE is extremely tough and inflexible. These features are suitable for larger items, such as covers, storage bins and some types of containers.