About Polyethylene

Polyethylene is a thermoplastic polymer with variable crystalline structure and an extremely

large range of applications depending on the particular type. It is one of the most widely
produced plastics in the world (tens of millions of tons are produced worldwide each year).
The commercial process (the Ziegler-Natta catalysts) that made Polyethylene such a success
was developed in the 1950s by German and Italian scientists Karl Ziegler and Giulio Natta.
Polyethylene is created through the polymerization of ethylene (i.e., ethene). The ethylene
molecule is:-
Ethylene Polyethylene Polymer
C2H4 (CH2=CH2)

There are a vast array of applications for polyethylene in which certain types are more or less
well suited. Generally speaking, High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) is much more
crystalline, has a much higher density, and is often used in completely different circumstances
than Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE). For example, LDPE is widely used in plastic
packaging such as for grocery bags or plastic wrap. HDPE by contrast has common
applications in construction (for example in its use as a drain pipe). Ultrahigh Molecular
Weight Polyethylene (UHMW) has high performance applications in things such as medical
devices and bulletproof vests.

The Different Types of Polyethylene

Polyethylene is commonly categorized into one of several major compounds of which the
most common include LDPE, LLDPE, HDPE, and Ultrahigh Molecular Weight
Polypropylene. Other variants include Medium Density Polyethylene (MDPE), Ultra-low-
molecular-weight polyethylene (ULMWPE or PE-WAX), High-molecular-weight
polyethylene (HMWPE), High-density cross-linked polyethylene (HDXLPE), Cross-linked
polyethylene (PEX or XLPE), Very-low-density polyethylene (VLDPE), and Chlorinated
polyethylene (CPE).
Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE) is a very flexible material with very unique flow
properties that makes it particularly suitable to plastic film applications like shopping bags.
LDPE has high ductility but low tensile strength which is evident in the real world by its
propensity to stretch when strained.
Linear Low Density Polyethylene (LLDPE) is very similar to LDPE with the added
advantage that the properties of LLDPE can be altered by adjusting the formula constituents
and that the overall production process for LLDPE is typically less energy intensive than
LDPE.
High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) is a strong, high density, moderately stiff plastic with a
highly crystalline structure. It is frequently used as a plastic for milk cartons, laundry
detergent, garbage bins, and cutting boards.
Ultrahigh Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UHMW) is an extremely dense version of
polyethylene with molecular weights typically an order of magnitude greater than HDPE. It
can be spun into threads with tensile strengths many times greater than steel and is frequently
incorporated into high performance equipment like bulletproof vests.

The Characteristics of Polyethylene

Now that we know what it is used for, lets examine some of the key properties of
Polyethylene. Polyethylene is classified as a thermoplastic (as opposed to thermoset),
and the name has to do with the way the plastic responds to heat. Thermoplastic materials
become liquid at their melting point (110-130 degrees Celsius in the case of LDPE and HDPE
respectively). A major useful attribute about thermoplastics is that they can be heated to their
melting point, cooled, and reheated again without significant degradation. Instead of burning,
thermoplastics like Polyethylene liquefy, which allows them to be easily [injection moulded]
and then subsequently recycled. By contrast, thermoset plastics can only be heated once
(typically during the injection moulding process). The first heating causes thermoset
materials to set (similar to a 2-part epoxy) resulting in a chemical change that cannot be
reversed. If you tried to heat a thermoset plastic to a high temperature a second time it would
simply burn. This characteristic makes thermoset materials poor candidates for recycling.
Different types of Polyethylene exhibit wide variability in their crystalline structures. The less
crystalline (the more amorphous) a plastic is, the more it demonstrates a tendency to
gradually soften (i.e. they have a wider range between their glass transition temperature and
their melting point). Crystalline plastics, by contrast, exhibit a rather sharp transition from
solid to liquid.
Polyethylene is a homopolymer in that it is composed of a single monomer constituent (in
this case ethylene: CH2=CH2).
Properties of Polyethylene
Property Low Density Polyethylene
(LDPE)
Crystallinity crystallinity (50-60%
crystalline)
Main chain contains many
side chains of 2-4 carbon
atoms leading to irregular
packing and low crystallinity
(amorphous)
Flexibility more flexible than HDPE
due to lower crystallinity
Strength not as strong as HDPE due
to irregular packing of
polymer chains
Heat Resistance Retains toughness &
pliability over a wide
temperature range, but
density drops off
dramatically above room
temperature.
good transparency since it
Transparency is more amorphous
(has non-crystalline
regions) than HDPE
Density 0.91-0.94 g/cm 3
density lower than HDPE
High D en s ity
Polyethylene
(HDPE)
highly crystalline
( > 9 0 % crystalline)
contains less than 1
side chain per 200
carbon atoms in the
main chain leading
to long linear
chains that result in
regular packing and
high crystallinity
more rigid than
LDPE due to higher
crystallinity
strong as a result of
regular packing of
polymer chains
useful above 100C
less transparent
than LDPE because
it is more
crystalline
0.95-0.97 g/cm3
higher density than
LDPE
Chemical Properties chemically inert chemically inert
Insolvent at room
temperature in most
solvents.
Good resistance to acids
and alkalis.
Exposure to light and
oxygen results in loss of
strength and loss of tear
resistance.
Schematic diagram

Uses Sandwich bags, cling wrap, car Freezer bags, water

covers, squeeze bottles, liners pipes, wire and cable
for tanks and ponds, moisture insulation, extrusion
barriers in construction. coating.
Tensile Strength 0.20 - 0.40 N/mm2 0.20 - 0.40 N/mm2

Notched Impact no break no break

Strength
Thermal Coefficient 100 - 220 x 10-6 100 - 220 x 10-6
of Expansion
Max. Continued Use 65 oC (149 oF) 65 oC (149 oF)
Temperature
Melting Point 110 oC (230 oF) 126 oC (259 oF)

References
http://www.ausetute.com.au/polythen.html
http://sciencing.com/properties-polyethylene-5045730.html