Polyethylene (PE) is a thermoplastic resin produced by polymerization of ethylene. In industry, it also includes copolymers of ethylene with small amounts of α-olefins. Polyethylene is odorless, non-toxic, feels like wax, has excellent low temperature resistance (the minimum use temperature can reach -100~-70 °C), good chemical stability, can resist most acids and alkalis (not resistant to acids with oxidizing properties). Insoluble in general solvents at room temperature, small water absorption, excellent electrical insulation.

Uses of polyethylene

Polyethylene can be used in film products, injection molding products, hollow products, pipe products, silk products, cable products, etc.

1. High-pressure polyethylene: more than half are used for film products, followed by pipes, injection molding products, wire wrapping, etc

2. Medium and low and pressed polyethylene: mainly injection molding products and hollow products.

3. Ultra-high pressure polyethylene: Due to the excellent comprehensive properties of ultra-high molecular polyethylene, it can be used as an engineering plastic.

　　Properties of polyethylene

1. Polyethylene has excellent chemical stability, and is resistant to corrosion by hydrochloric acid, hydrofluoric acid, phosphoric acid, formic acid, amines, sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide and other chemical substances at room temperature, but nitric acid and sulfuric acid have a strong destructive effect on polyethylene;

2. Polyethylene is easy to photooxidize, thermal oxidation, ozone decomposition, easy to degrade under the action of ultraviolet rays, carbon black has excellent light shielding effect on polyethylene. After being irradiated, cross-linking, chain breaking, and formation of unsaturated groups can occur.