Get to Know Polyethylene, a Flexible Plastic Material

The existence of synthetic materials like plastic has helped human lives. Plastic has become one of the primary materials for household and industrial use products, such as containers, plastic bottles, plastic ropes, and many more.

Among the main plastic materials found in various products is polyethylene. To learn more about polyethylene, read the information below.

What Is Polyethylene (PE)?

Polyethylene (PE) is a multipurpose and light synthetic resin. It comes from the ethylene polymerization process. PE is known for its flexibility and resistance against chemicals and electric current, making it one of the most common plastic raw materials used in the world.

According to Statista, the market volume for polyethylene reached 110.13 million metric tons globally, and in 2023, the market volume is predicted to reach 135.08 million metric tons.

The most common application of polyethylene is for container production. Moreover, PE is often used to make plastic bags, plastic bottles, and plastic films.

This material with the (C2H4)n chemical formula is considered thermoplastic, or the plastic that can be reshaped using heat. Yet, some PEs are thermoset or hard to reshape.

In general, the process to make PE begins with crude oil. Then, the carbon bonds are transformed into polymers to be plastic raw materials. The polymer chains will be melted into sheets and leveraged to make final products.

The Characteristics of Polyethylene

Polyethylene has several characteristics that make it irreplaceable in the industrial and household sectors, such as:

Humidity and chemical-resistant: Polyethylene is resistant to humidity and chemicals, making it suitable for humid environments.
Smooth-surfaced: PE is smooth-surfaced. Therefore, you must be careful in attaching labels or other materials.
Functions optimally in low and high temperatures: PE can work between -200 and 80 degrees Celsius.
Adaptable: PE can adapt well, making the manufacturing processes, like drilling, welding, and milling, easier.
Recyclable and sustainable: Polyethylene is completely recyclable and sustainable for a greener future.
Soft: The mechanical strength, rigidity, and hardness levels of PE are lower than other types of plastic.
Great isolator: PE can isolate electric current well because it is resistant to electrical treeing degradation.
Ductile: PE can deform without cracking, making it more durable against impact and other damage.
Paraffin-like-textured: PE is made of nonpolar saturated hydrocarbons, which gives it its own chemical characteristics similar to paraffins.

Types of Polyethylene

The types of polyethylene are determined from the plastic density and degree of branching in the structure. Each variety of PE has distinct mechanical properties because the type of branching and branching extension directly affect the plastic's mechanical properties. Here is the complete information:

1. High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE)

HDPE is impact-resistant and durable, making it suitable for producing plastics that are resilient in many conditions. HDPE is a thermoplastic with high durability and low flexibility.

HDPE has a quite high crystallinity, which is up to 80%. Some examples of HDPE are food packaging, housewares, trash cans, and many more.

2. Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE)

LDPE is more flexible than HDPE and is more shapeable. LDPE is among the most used PE plastics. LDPE has a lower crystallinity than HDPE, which is about 35%. Examples of LDPE are plastic bags and tarpaulins.

3. Linear Low-Density Polyethylene (LLDPE)

LLDPE is very flexible, making it able to be stretched without tearing, and has good impact resistance. LLDPE is a combination of LDPE and is more lithe than other polyethylene. Examples of LLDPE are industrial films and stretchable packaging.

In addition to the common three types of polyethylene above, this material also results in other plastics, such as:

Chlorinated polyethylene (CPE).
High modulus polyethylene/ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE).
Medium-density polyethylene (MDPE).
Ultra-low molecular weight polyethylene (ULMWPE).
Cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE).
High-density cross-linked polyethylene (HDXLPE).
High-molecular-weight polyethylene (HMWPE).

The Uses of Polyethylene

There are various uses of polyethylene because it is very durable. Besides, some PEs, like LLDPE and LDPE, are quite flexible, making it easier to reshape as needed.

PE is commonly used to make product packaging and plastic containers. Polyethylene is also frequently found in the second layer in milk or juice cartons. Polyethylene is also safer for toy making.

Typically, HDPE plastic is used to produce trash cans, ice trays, fish nets, ropes, housewares, and industrial textiles. Additionally, in some cases, HDPE is used to coat cables and wires.

Then, LDPE is used to produce squeeze bottles, lamination plastics, and food containers because it is very flexible and cost-effective. LDPE is also used to make pipes since it does not easily absorb water.

The Recycling Process of Polyethylene

Polyethylene is recyclable because it can be heated and reshaped into product mixtures or other valuable products. The recycled results are also considered safe because it is resistant to chemical contamination.

One of the polyethylene recycling efforts made is the CIRCLOⓇ franchise developed by Chandra Asri Group. CIRCLOⓇ is an asphalt plastic mixture product made from shredded plastic bags, especially HDPE plastic bags.

The franchise empowers local recyclers and trades to produce standardized asphalt mixtures. Apart from that, Chandra Asri Group also helps local recyclers and dealers turn plastic bags into high-quality mixed materials.

That is the information about polyethylene you can learn. Polyethylene becomes one of the common primary materials for global plastic making.

Regarding polyethylene, Chandra Asri Group provides a high-quality PE with the AsreneⓇ trademark. The PE material produced has gone through strict quality control before being marketed in 25 kg sizes. AsreneⓇ offers HDPE, LLDPE, and Metallocene LLDPE.

Make sure that your company uses top-notch plastic raw materials to create excellent products. So, trust your industrial chemical needs to Chandra Asri Group!