Below you will find the answer to the question of what is polyethylene, one of the engineering plastics, in detail and get rid of the questions in your mind.
Polyethylene is an engineering plastic that is extremely durable, resistant to chemicals and used in a wide variety of products. In the plastic industry, it is generally called PE (POLYETHYLENE). The ethylene molecule C2H4 consists of two CH2s connected by a double bond. (CH2=CH2) Polyethylene is produced by polymerization of ethylene. Polyethylene plastic can be low density or high density, moldable, extruded and poured into molds of various shapes. Polyethylene is a hard, strong, durable and dimensional stable material that absorbs very little water.
Imperial Chemical Industries
History of Polyethylene
The way to know what polyethylene is is to know its history and emergence. The polymerization reaction of ethylene was found by chance in 1930 at the British chemical products company Imperial Chemical Industries. But initially, it took years to make the technology of this reaction, which was carried out under very high pressures of approximately 2000 bar, easily applicable. Polyethylene, whose mechanical and electrical properties were soon realized, began to be used in many different applications. Later, in the 1950s, chemist K. Ziegler developed the polymerization reaction under low pressure. This method was expanded to all types of polyethylene in the 1970s; thus, polyethylene has since become the most widely used plastic material worldwide. It has been used in a wide variety of areas ranging from garbage bags to electrical insulation. 3 Polyethylenes are one of the oldest polymers of the thermoplastic family, and while they were previously produced only in low density, they have developed and three new types of polyethylene have been added to the family: high density, linear, and medium density. These four types of polyethylene are also the basic polymeric materials of the industry and have very different areas of use. With the addition of new types, that is, the improvement of polyethylene, it is used in many areas from toys to household goods, from canisters to bags. Polyethylene is widely used today due to its durability, strength, easy processing and superior dielectric properties. Polyethylene Materials Definition Polyethylene is a white, semi-permeable, softenable and very durable type of engineering plastic.
Today, polyethylene production processes are generally divided into categories as “high pressure” and “low pressure” operations. The “high pressure” operation category generally produces ordinary low density polyethylene (LDPE), while the “low pressure” operation category produces high density (HDPE) and linear low density (LLDPE) polyethylene.
It is a type of plastic that can be used easily in humid environments because it is not affected by moisture. Polyethylene (PE) IS DIVIDED INTO CLASSES SUCH AS PE 100, PE 300, PE 500, PE 1000.
General Properties of Polyethylene
- Easy weldability
- Electrical insulation ability
- Good machining properties
- Low wear
- High strength
- Good slippery
Polyethylene Usage Areas
- Moving machine parts
- Gear wheel pulley
- Sliding equipment
- Conveyor equipment manufacturing
- Automotive sector
- Polyethylene Types
Polyethylene is classified into various categories based on its density and chemical properties. Its mechanical properties depend on its molecular weight, crystal structure and branching type. The PE types used in Plasticlevha are as follows.
HDPE (High density PE) (High density PE)
Bimodal and single modal for blown film, blow molding, injection molding or other extrusion processes. HDPE grades, UV-stabilization and certification meeting UN standards for blow molded chemical containers are possible.
Plastomers for modification of PE or PP to increase properties such as sealing, impact or softness. Plastomers offer a wide range of classes, densities and comonomers (one of the compounds that form copolymers, i.e.: Ethylene-Octene or Butane based Polymer).
LDPE (low density PE) (low density PE)
Plastomers for modification of PE or PP to increase properties such as sealing, impact or softness. Plastomers offer a wide range of classes, densities and comonomers (one of the compounds that form copolymers, i.e.: Ethylene-Octene or Butane based Polymer).