What is Polyethylene?

What is Polyethylene?

        Polyethylene is a type of large molecular mass polymer formed by covalent bonding of small molecular mass ethylene monomers.

        Polyethylene is classified into various categories based on density and chemical properties. Mechanical properties depend on molecular weight, crystal structure and branching type.

• UHMWPE (ultra high molecular weight PE)
• HDPE (high density PE)
• HDXLPE (high density cross-linked PE)
• PEX (cross- linked PE)
• MDPE (middle density PE)
• LDPE (low density PE)
• LLDPE (linear connected low density PE)
• VLDPE (very low density PE)

 

   

 

        It is possible to divide polyethylene into three classes: HDPE, MDPE and LDPE. The major feature that distinguishes low density polyethylene from high density polyethylene is the amount of branching in the chains.