Overview

Polyethylene (pol-ee-ETH-uh-leen) is a thermosetting white solid resistant to high temperatures, most inorganic and organic chemicals, and physical impact. It is also an electrical non-conductor. A thermosetting polymer is one that, once it is melted and formed, can not be re-melted. Polyethylene is available in a variety of forms, the most common of which are high-density (HD or HDPE), low density (LD or LDPE), linear low density (LLD or LLDPE) and cross-linked (CLPE). These forms of the compound differ with respect to the structure of the polyethylene chains and their relationship to each other. For example, if all of the polyethylene chains are straight chains without branches, they can pack together tightly forming a high density product. By contrast, low density polyethylene consists of shorter chains with many side branches on them. The side branches prevent adjacent polymer chains from getting too close to each other. In...