Varieties of polyethylene | MULAN1

Polyethylene (PE) is a thermoplastic resin prepared by polymerization of ethylene monomer. It is a universal crystalline plastic.

PE resin is non-toxic, tasteless white powder or particles, the appearance is milky white, has a waxy feel, does not absorb water, the water absorption rate is close to 0.

The tensile strength of PE is low, the creep resistance is not good, the impact resistance is good.

The melting point of PE is 100~130°C, the heat resistance is not high, but the low temperature resistance is good, and the minimum use temperature can reach -100~-70°C.

PE is insoluble in other solvents at room temperature, but can be dissolved in toluene, amyl acetate, trichloroethylene and other solvents above 70℃.

PE has good chemical stability and is resistant to most acids or alkali solutions such as hydrochloric acid and dilute sulfuric acid at room temperature, but it is not resistant to corrosion of strong oxidizing acids.

There are mainly the following types of polyethylene:

Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE)

LDPE is waxy particles with milky white, tasteless, odorless, non-toxic, and dull surface. LDPE density 0.91~0.93g/cm3, with good softness, extensibility, electrical insulation, transparency, ease of processing and certain permeability. LDPE has good chemical stability, alkali resistance, resistance to general organic solvents.

LDPE is mainly used as agricultural film, industrial packaging film, medicine and food packaging film, mechanical parts, daily necessities, building materials, wire, cable insulation, coating and synthetic paper.

Linear Low Density Polyethylene (LLDPE)

LLDPE is milky white particles with non-toxic, tasteless and odorless  LLDPE density 0.918~0.935g/cm3. Compared with LDPE, LLDPE has higher softening temperature and melting temperature, high strength, good toughness, rigidity, heat resistance, cold resistance and other advantages, but also has good resistance to environmental stress cracking, impact strength, tear strength and other properties.

LLDPE is used to produce films, daily necessities, pipes, wires and cables.

High Density Polyethylene (HDPE)

HDPE is white powder or particle with non-toxic, tasteless and odorless. HDPE density 0.918~0.935g/cm3. HDPE is superior to LDPE in terms of hardness, tensile strength and creep. HDPE has good wear resistance, electrical insulation, toughness and cold resistance. HDPE chemical stability is good, insoluble in any organic solvent at room temperature, HDPE acid, alkali and various salts corrosion. But HDPE aging resistance is poor, resistance to environmental stress cracking is not as good as LDPE.

HDPE is used in the production of film products, daily necessities and industrial hollow containers of various sizes, pipes, calendering tape and ligature tape for packaging, rope, fishing net and braiding fiber, wire and cable.