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With so many different variations of polyethylene available, this is the most widely used type of plastic. This article covers some of its key properties and what it’s commonly used for.
What is it – Scientifically?
Polyethylene is a group of thermoplastic homopolymers, meaning it’s made up of a repeat of single units, in this case; ethene monomers. These monomers are made from carbon and hydrogen atoms.
It’s produced from ethylene which is the by product of processing either crude oil or natural gas. The polymerization process occurs by introducing a free radical to ethylene which causes the double bond between the two carbon atoms to break. This now open bond can connect with other open-bonded molecules to continue to develop long polyethylene chains.
It’s then extruded into long filaments which pass into a pelletizer to cut it into small pellets. These are then shipped to polyethylene plastic processors.
What are the Properties of Polyethylene?
Polyethylene contains many advantageous properties, including:
- Flexibility
- They’re translucent
- They’re weatherproof
- Durability at low temperatures (up to –60 degrees ’C)
- Affordability
- Good chemical resistance
- They’re easy to process
Polyethylene Applications
Due to its variety of properties, some of the most common applications of polyethylene include:
- Water bottles and water tanks
- Food containers
- Pipes and electrical insulation
- Bags
- Medical implants
- Ropes
- Fishing nets
- Flexible films
Get in touch with our plastic experts to find out how we use polyethylene (PE) and how we process this type of plastic for your applications.
For more information on A Guide to Polyethylene (PE) and its Applications talk to Rayda Plastics Ltd