Polyethylene has firmly entered into the everyday life of modern man, becoming an indispensable part of it. It united the properties that are not compatible for other materials: strength and ductility, hardness and flexibility, softness and absolute inertness to chemicals. It is impervious to rot bacteria and fungi during its natural decomposition of more than 100 years. We even sometimes do not notice how many necessary and useful things around are made of polymer materials, such as polyethylene, it has a leading position. And it is not only the famous packages, but also a lot of plastic products around us.

Areas of use
Polyethylene is used in virtually all areas of human activity: in the home, agriculture, chemical and automobile industry, production of all kinds of instruments and apparatus, etc. Its unique properties have been used throughout:

– More than 35% PE is the packaging, as it does not let liquids and gases, has a water-repellent properties and;
– Excellent dielectric properties make it useful in the manufacture of insulating materials;
– Almost total absence of water absorption (less than 2% of the volume) making it one of the best waterproofing;
– Resistance to the different active substances, strength, flexibility and insulating properties made it possible to apply it in the manufacture of pipes for water, food and industrial liquids, and even gas;
– Low thermal conductivity and sound absorption of polyethylene used in the creation of heat-shielding and noise insulating materials for construction, communications devices, apparatus, and machine-building;
– Strength and elasticity can create from it to different parts of household or industrial engineering;
– Compatible with living tissues provides the possibility of manufacturing some types of polyethylene medical prostheses, external and even internal;
– Many other areas, among which there are even some original, as a manufacturer of body armor.

INTERESTING! Polyethylene is the first place in the whole world production of plastics, because it itself is one of the cheapest plastics, and its use reduces the expenditure for construction works a few times due to low weight and easy weldability of PE structures.

Products of polyethylene
PE Types

Polyethylene is produced by enlarging the ethylene hydrocarbon molecules. The polymerization process may take place under very different conditions: temperature, pressure, reaction related substances produce different polymer modified with a wide range of characteristics:

-Polietilen “High pressure” (LDPE) has a low density, is among the most soft plastics and is used to make more flexible and elastic products. Products It produces the most smooth and shiny surfaces with a high coefficient of transparency.
-Polietilen “Low pressure” (HDPE) is much more dense and solid. It is used for manufacturing the most durable product that can withstand heavy loads.
Linear PE combines HDPE LDPE strength and elasticity that is necessary in manufacturing a variety of products and particularly finds application in the manufacture of films.
-Sverhmolekulyarny Polyethylene has unique properties of strength and resistance to various physical and chemical effects.

IMPORTANT! Contrary to the belief of the impossibility to use the polyethylene at high temperatures due to its thermoplasticity, some of his views freely used for the production of heating and hot water pipes. This thermally stable and so-called “cross-linked” (sverhmolekulyarny) types of polyethylene having a structure similar to the crystal lattice, particularly solids.

Types of products

The assortment of polyethylene products is striking in its breadth and “inclusiveness”:

Films for packaging, sealing, construction of greenhouses (window replacement), the manufacture of waterproof clothing (coats, gloves), etc .:
Smooth,
bubble,
stretch,
Heat-shrinkable,
Scotch.
Containers of different purposes – from plastic bottles and food containers to canisters and tanks up to 200 liters.
Pressure or non-pressure pipes with diameters from 10 to 1600 mm with different thicknesses:
plumbing,
Gas,
Sewer,
Drainage,
Heating.
Dishes like disposable, and for more long-term use, as well as flower pots, etc.
Children toys and Christmas tree, souvenirs.
Insulating shells and plates.
Anti-corrosion coating for metal pipes, tanks and other products.
Shock absorbers for mechanical protection during transportation, protection of pipes buried in the ground by the seismic shifts and seasonal species and others.
Foams for thermal insulation shells, substrates, spacers in the construction of buildings, appliances, and automotive.
Enclosures for various devices, machines, boats, etc.
Engineering design, landscaping houses adjoining items and children’s playgrounds.
Drives for environmentally hazardous substances and landfills othodoperabatyvayuschih.
Medical aids and prosthetic elements.
Dry in a hot melt polyethylene powder.
Rules for working with products from PE
Despite the variety of original properties is still polyethylene thermoplastic polymer which in pure form too afraid to high temperatures for it, and aging under the influence of atmospheric factors action open. Therefore, to increase the operating time of PE products must be:

Use them at optimal temperatures – from 0 to +40 0C,
Protect from sunlight by painting, covering up other materials or the use of additives in the composition of the protective material.

Properties of PE

The melting point of t⁰ 103⁰C

ƍ 0,91-0,965 Density g / cm³ (910-965 kg / m³)

(Specific gravity) of 0,36-0,43 W / m⁰K

The thermal conductivity of 46.62 MJ / kg

Heat of combustion (lower) 126 kgf / cm²

Breaking stress at compression of 2200 kg / cm²