{"id":13964,"date":"2018-10-23T10:18:15","date_gmt":"2018-10-23T08:18:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/?p=13964"},"modified":"2025-12-18T17:34:09","modified_gmt":"2025-12-18T16:34:09","slug":"properties-and-applications-of-polyethylene","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/en\/properties-and-applications-of-polyethylene\/","title":{"rendered":"Properties and Applications of Polyethylene"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_73 ez-toc-wrap-center counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-white ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/en\/properties-and-applications-of-polyethylene\/#Polyethylene_%E2%80%93_The_Most_Commonly_Used_Plastic\" title=\"Polyethylene \u2013 The Most Commonly Used Plastic\">Polyethylene \u2013 The Most Commonly Used Plastic<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/en\/properties-and-applications-of-polyethylene\/#Polyethylene_Is_a_Versatile_Plastic\" title=\"Polyethylene Is a Versatile Plastic\">Polyethylene Is a Versatile Plastic<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/en\/properties-and-applications-of-polyethylene\/#Different_Manufacturing_Methods_Different_Properties\" title=\"Different Manufacturing Methods, Different Properties\">Different Manufacturing Methods, Different Properties<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/en\/properties-and-applications-of-polyethylene\/#LDPE\" title=\"LDPE\">LDPE<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/en\/properties-and-applications-of-polyethylene\/#HDPE\" title=\"HDPE\">HDPE<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/en\/properties-and-applications-of-polyethylene\/#Flexible_Processing\" title=\"Flexible Processing\">Flexible Processing<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/en\/properties-and-applications-of-polyethylene\/#Tailor-Made_Polymers\" title=\"Tailor-Made Polymers\">Tailor-Made Polymers<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/en\/properties-and-applications-of-polyethylene\/#Renewable_Resources_and_Recycling\" title=\"Renewable Resources and Recycling\">Renewable Resources and Recycling<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Polyethylene (PE) is one of the plastics that, thanks to its favourable material properties, has found a wide range of applications and become an indispensable mass-market material.<\/strong><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Polyethylene_%E2%80%93_The_Most_Commonly_Used_Plastic\"><\/span>Polyethylene \u2013 The Most Commonly Used Plastic<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Abbreviated as PE, Polyethylene is the most commonly used plastic. In Europe alone, millions of tonnes are produced every year and processed into plastic products such as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/en\/tubes-hoses\">hoses<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/en\/semi-finished-products\">semi-finished products<\/a>, films, sheets, rods, and profiles. Additional quantities are used for manufacturing coatings, adhesives, fibres, or are exported in smaller amounts.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>PE is especially used in the packaging industry, as the material is physiologically safe, neutral in taste, and odorless. Large quantities of polyethylene are also used for plastic bags.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">According to a 2015 report by the German Federal Environment Agency, each EU citizen uses at least 200 plastic bags made of polyethylene and other plastics per year\u2014bags that sooner or later become waste and often end up uncontrolled in the environment. To counter this, many retailers have been charging fees for plastic bags since 2018. The free distribution of plastic bags has been restricted across the EU, with numerous member states introducing bans or mandatory charges. In the coming years, plastic bags are expected to disappear completely from retail\u2014this includes even the once-beloved polyethylene shopping bags.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_2793\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-2793\" style=\"width: 600px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-2793 size-full\" title=\"Globe in a disposable polyethylene bag\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/Globus-im-Einwegbeutel-aus-Polyethylen.jpg\" alt=\"Globe in a disposable polyethylene bag\" width=\"600\" height=\"375\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/Globus-im-Einwegbeutel-aus-Polyethylen.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/Globus-im-Einwegbeutel-aus-Polyethylen-300x188.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-2793\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">\u00a9 IRINA \/ Fotolia.com<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"whitespace-pre-wrap break-words\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">An amendment to the European Packaging Directive (94\/62\/EC) required member states to either limit the consumption of single-use plastic bags with a wall thickness of less than 50 \u03bcm to a maximum of 40 pieces per inhabitant per year by the end of 2025, or to ensure that these are not provided free of charge.<\/p>\n<p class=\"whitespace-pre-wrap break-words\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">In Germany, the use of such plastic bags has already been declining for several years: As early as 2021, the EU requirements were met with 39 plastic carrier bags per inhabitant per year. Since January 1, 2022, the placing on the market of plastic bags with a wall thickness of less than 50 \u03bcm that are intended for filling goods at points of sale has been prohibited. Exempt from this are so-called &#8220;shirt bags&#8221; with a wall thickness of less than 15 \u03bcm, which are intended for hygienic reasons as packaging for loose food items such as fruits and vegetables.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Polyethylene_Is_a_Versatile_Plastic\"><\/span>Polyethylene Is a Versatile Plastic<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Since the 1950s, polyethylene has become a leading mass-market plastic. It combines many positive properties and can be tailored to specific applications through the manufacturing process or the addition of functional additives. As a thermoplastic that softens at temperatures above +80\u202f\u00b0C, PE is easy to process. It is resistant to most acids and alkalis, as well as to oils, fats, petrol, and aliphatic hydrocarbons. This chemical resistance, combined with mechanical robustness, makes <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/en\/tubes-hoses\/tubings-and-pipes-made-of-rigid-plastics\/pe-tubing\">PE tubing<\/a> indispensable in hose technology. However, it is not resistant to strong oxidising acids such as nitric acid, for which alternative materials must be chosen.<\/p>\n<p><center><a href=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/en\/filtration\/filter-units-vacuum-and-buechner-funnels-filter-funnels\/30843\/buechner-suction-filter-made-of-hdpe\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-2802 size-full\" title=\"B\u00fcchner Suction Filter made of HDPE | welded-in porous polyethylene plate\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/buechner-trichter-aus-hdpe-polyethylen.jpg\" alt=\"B\u00fcchner Suction Filter made of HDPE \" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/buechner-trichter-aus-hdpe-polyethylen.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/buechner-trichter-aus-hdpe-polyethylen-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/en\/laboratory-equipment\/metering-facilities-and-metering-devices\/pipette-and-accessories\/29940\/pipette-made-of-ldpe\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-2803 size-full\" title=\"Pipette made of LDPE for use in bacteriology, hematology, and blood banks\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/pipette-aus-ldpe.jpg\" alt=\"Pipette made of LDPE\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/pipette-aus-ldpe.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/pipette-aus-ldpe-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/center><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">While PE&#8217;s UV resistance is naturally low, it can be significantly improved by adding carbon black as an additive. In the food industry, polyethylene films are favoured because the material is safe for health, offers moderate gas permeability compared to other plastics, and absorbs very little moisture overall. Polyethylene is also an excellent electrical insulator, making it ideal for cable coatings and non-conductive components in the electrical industry. Another advantage: polyethylene can be produced with varying degrees of transparency \u2014 from almost completely clear to fully opaque. Other properties such as density, strength, or hardness can also be modified through the choice of manufacturing process.<\/p>\n<p><center><a href=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/en\/tubes-hoses\/tubings-and-pipes-made-of-rigid-plastics\/pe-tubing\/28739\/ldpe-chemical-tubing-standard\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-2808 size-full\" title=\"LDPE Chemical Tubing | Standard | Material: LDPE (low density polyethylene, uncrosslinked)\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/ldpe-chemieschlauch-standard-polyethylen.jpg\" alt=\"LDPE Chemical Tubing | Standard\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/ldpe-chemieschlauch-standard-polyethylen.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/ldpe-chemieschlauch-standard-polyethylen-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/en\/tubes-hoses\/tubings-and-pipes-made-of-rigid-plastics\/pe-tubing\/28751\/ldpe-corrugated-pipe\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-2809 size-full\" title=\"LDPE Corrugated Pipe | Material: LDPE (low density polyethylene, uncrosslinked)\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/ldpe-wellrohr-polyethylen.jpg\" alt=\"LDPE Corrugated Pipe\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/ldpe-wellrohr-polyethylen.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/ldpe-wellrohr-polyethylen-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/center><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Different_Manufacturing_Methods_Different_Properties\"><\/span>Different Manufacturing Methods, Different Properties<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"LDPE\"><\/span>LDPE<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">As early as 1898, German chemist Hans von Pechstein (1850\u20131902) described the polymerisation of ethylene into polyethylene, though the discovery initially had no industrial significance. In 1935, chemist Michael W. Perrin (1905\u20131988) of British company Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI) developed an industrially viable process for producing polyethylene from ethanol (C\u2082H\u2085OH).<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>However, it was only after further chemical-technical improvements \u2014 and especially the use of ethylene (CH\u2082=CH\u2082) from petroleum refining instead of ethanol \u2014 that ICI began large-scale polyethylene production in 1940.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The radical polymerisation of ethylene takes place at high pressures (150 to 300 bar) and temperatures around 300\u202f\u00b0C, resulting in a polymer with highly branched chains. Due to its low density of 0.92\u20130.93 g\/cm\u00b3, this high-pressure polyethylene is known as LDPE (<em>low-density polyethylene<\/em>). It is characterised by a low melting point and a soft consistency in its virgin (unfilled) form.<\/p>\n<p><center><a href=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/en\/laboratory-equipment\/laboratory-containers\/bottles-carboys-and-accessories\/29659\/wash-bottle-made-of-ldpe-coloured\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-2816 size-full\" title=\"Wash Bottle made of LDPE - coloured | Coloring is food-safe and cadmium-free\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/spritzflasche-aus-ldpe-farbig-1.jpg\" alt=\"Wash Bottle made of LDPE - coloured\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/spritzflasche-aus-ldpe-farbig-1.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/spritzflasche-aus-ldpe-farbig-1-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/en\/laboratory-equipment\/laboratory-containers\/bottles-carboys-and-accessories\/29679\/wide-mouth-bottle-made-of-ldpe\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-2817 size-full\" title=\"Wide-Mouth Bottle made of LDPE | translucent | natural-coloured\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/weithalsflasche-aus-ldpe.jpg\" alt=\"Wide-Mouth Bottle made of LDPE\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/weithalsflasche-aus-ldpe.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/weithalsflasche-aus-ldpe-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/center><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"HDPE\"><\/span>HDPE<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">In the 1950s, German chemist Karl Ziegler (1898\u20131973) and Italian chemist Giulio Natta (1903\u20131979) made a decisive breakthrough in catalyst research. They developed organometallic catalysts that enabled polyethylene production at much lower temperatures and pressures compared to the ICI process. This polymer features minimally branched chains and a higher density of 0.94 to 0.97 g\/cm\u00b3, earning it the name HDPE (<em>high-density polyethylene<\/em>).<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>Compared to LDPE, HDPE is stiffer, harder, and has greater abrasion resistance due to its higher crystallinity.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Today, in addition to the classic Ziegler-Natta catalysts, newer catalyst systems such as Kaminsky catalysts based on metallocenes \u2014 developed by German chemists Walter Kaminsky (1941 &#8211; 2024) and Hansj\u00f6rg Sinn (*1929) \u2014 are also used.<\/p>\n<p><center><a href=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/en\/tube-hose-connectors\/connectors-made-of-plastic\/barb-connectors\/28942\/straight-barb-union-made-of-hdpe-detachable\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-2821 size-full\" title=\"Straight Barb Union made of HDPE (polyethylene, hard, high density) | detachable\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/gerade-schlauchtuelle-aus-hdpe-loesbar-hdpe-polyethylen.jpg\" alt=\"Straight Barb Union made of HDPE | detachable\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/gerade-schlauchtuelle-aus-hdpe-loesbar-hdpe-polyethylen.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/gerade-schlauchtuelle-aus-hdpe-loesbar-hdpe-polyethylen-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/en\/semi-finished-products\/adhesive-tapes-and-tapes\/adhesive-tapes-and-tapes-made-of-elastomers-or-plastics\/30097\/foam-adhesive-tape-made-of-ldpe\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-2822 size-full\" title=\"Foam Adhesive Tape | Good resistance to weather | Material: LDPE (polyethylene, soft, low density)\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/schaum-klebeband-aus-ldpe-polyethylen.jpg\" alt=\"Foam Adhesive Tape ldpe polyethylene\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/schaum-klebeband-aus-ldpe-polyethylen.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/schaum-klebeband-aus-ldpe-polyethylen-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/center><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Flexible_Processing\"><\/span>Flexible Processing<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Besides the economical production methods, polyethylene offers cost-effective downstream processing into semi-finished or finished goods. Unprocessed polyethylene, available as powder or granules, can be processed using nearly all conventional thermoplastic methods, including injection moulding, blow moulding, extrusion, and calendering. Polyethylene is used to manufacture not only sheets and rods but also films, hoses, and pipes, as well as tanks, tank linings, bottles, small components, and disposable articles for the medical and laboratory sectors.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_2797\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-2797\" style=\"width: 600px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-2797 size-full\" title=\"Transparent polyethylene granules\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/Transparentes-Polyethylengranulat.jpg\" alt=\"Transparent polyethylene granules\" width=\"600\" height=\"400\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/Transparentes-Polyethylengranulat.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/Transparentes-Polyethylengranulat-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-2797\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">\u00a9 Stanislau_V \/ Fotolia.com<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">In many cases, these items replace equivalent glass products, significantly improving occupational safety. Additionally, polyethylene is used to make countless everyday household items \u2014 so common that they are often taken for granted.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Tailor-Made_Polymers\"><\/span>Tailor-Made Polymers<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Beyond manufacturing methods, the properties of polyethylene can be modified by additives, copolymers, or chemical post-treatments. For outdoor applications, PE materials are typically enhanced with around 2% carbon black to improve UV resistance. &#8220;Foamed polyethylene&#8221; is produced by adding blowing agents to the polymer melt and is used for insulation purposes. Other refinement methods include chemical treatments:<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The chlorosulfonation of PE with elemental chlorine (Cl\u2082) and sulfur dioxide (SO\u2082) yields an elastic material used, for example, in durable floor coverings.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Through copolymerization, it is possible to expand the spectrum of tailor-made polymers based on polyethylene, for example through copolymerization of ethylene and vinyl acetate. Thus, copolymerization of ethylene and vinyl acetate produces a copolymer that is very impact-resistant and is used for paper coatings or processed further into specialized adhesives. Finally, highly crosslinked polymers with higher acid resistance can be obtained through UV radiation or with peroxide-based chemical radical initiators.<\/p>\n<p><center><a href=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/en\/closure-elements\/plugs\/plugs-made-of-plastics\/30622\/finned-plug-made-of-ldpe-rectangular\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-2829 size-full\" title=\"Finned Plug made of LDPE (Polyethylene, soft, low density) | rectangular | Colour: black\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/lamellenstopfen-aus-ldpe-rechteckig-polyethylen.jpg\" alt=\"Finned Plug made of LDPE \" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/lamellenstopfen-aus-ldpe-rechteckig-polyethylen.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/lamellenstopfen-aus-ldpe-rechteckig-polyethylen-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a>\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/en\/laboratory-equipment\/laboratory-containers\/tubes-jars-and-boxes\/29747\/specimen-jar-made-of-ldpe-with-screw-closure\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-2830 size-full\" title=\"Specimen Jar made of LDPE with leakproof, easy-turnable screw closure | Colour: translucent\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/praeparatedose-aus-ldpe-mit-schraubverschluss.jpg\" alt=\"Specimen Jar made of LDPE with leakproof, easy-turnable screw closure\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/praeparatedose-aus-ldpe-mit-schraubverschluss.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/praeparatedose-aus-ldpe-mit-schraubverschluss-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/center><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Renewable_Resources_and_Recycling\"><\/span>Renewable Resources and Recycling<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">In recent years, there has been increasing interest in producing polymers from renewable resources. In Brazil, for example, bio-based polyethylene is produced from sugarcane-derived ethanol \u2014 essentially reviving Perrin\u2019s 1930s approach with modern technology. Given the widespread use of polyethylene \u2014 in hoses, pipes, films, and many other semi-finished and finished products \u2014 the question of end-of-life management becomes critical.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">In principle, recycling the material itself is the primary goal for thermoplastic materials and therefore also for polyethylene.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">PE can be melted and reprocessed almost 100%, and can typically be recycled four to five times with acceptable material properties. This gives polyethylene a relatively positive environmental balance compared to many other plastics. However, effective recycling requires clean, sorted streams \u2014 separated into LDPE and HDPE and free from foreign materials \u2014 a challenge that remains unresolved for many types of recyclable plastics.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Polyethylene (PE) is one of the plastics that, thanks to its favourable material properties, has found a wide range of applications and become an indispensable mass-market material. Polyethylene \u2013 The Most Commonly Used Plastic Abbreviated as PE, Polyethylene is the most commonly used plastic. In Europe alone, millions of tonnes are produced every year and &hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":11694,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1,3028,2748,3029],"tags":[2938,2937,2750,2946,2947,2943,2948,2949,2940,2756,2764,3046,3047,2941,2944,2939,2942,2945],"class_list":["post-13964","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","","category-all-articles","category-alle-beitraege-en","category-materials-in-chemistry","category-werkstoffe-in-der-chemie-en","tag-adhesive-tape","tag-buechner-funnel","tag-chemical-hoses","tag-corrugated-tubes","tag-hdpe-en","tag-hose-connector","tag-ldpe-en","tag-pe-en","tag-pipettes","tag-plastic","tag-polyethylene","tag-schlaeuche-en","tag-schlauchtuelle-en","tag-specimen-container","tag-squeeze-bottles","tag-stopper-with-fins","tag-tubeshoses","tag-wide-mouth-bottle"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v23.1 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Properties and Applications of Polyethylene - Reichelt Chemietechnik Magazine<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Polyethylene is a plastic with outstanding material properties! 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Jahrhunderts in Sachsen.\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/en\/author\/k-heise\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Properties and Applications of Polyethylene - Reichelt Chemietechnik Magazine","description":"Polyethylene is a plastic with outstanding material properties! \u2013 Find out more about its applications in the RCT online magazine!","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/en\/properties-and-applications-of-polyethylene\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Properties and Applications of Polyethylene - Reichelt Chemietechnik Magazine","og_description":"Polyethylene is a plastic with outstanding material properties! \u2013 Find out more about its applications in the RCT online magazine!","og_url":"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/en\/properties-and-applications-of-polyethylene\/","og_site_name":"Reichelt Chemietechnik Magazine","article_published_time":"2018-10-23T08:18:15+00:00","article_modified_time":"2025-12-18T16:34:09+00:00","og_image":[{"width":800,"height":532,"url":"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/Eigenschaften-und-Verwendung-von-Polyethylen.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Dr. Karl-Heinz Heise","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Dr. Karl-Heinz Heise","Est. reading time":"9 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/en\/properties-and-applications-of-polyethylene\/","url":"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/en\/properties-and-applications-of-polyethylene\/","name":"Properties and Applications of Polyethylene - Reichelt Chemietechnik Magazine","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/en\/properties-and-applications-of-polyethylene\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/en\/properties-and-applications-of-polyethylene\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/Eigenschaften-und-Verwendung-von-Polyethylen.jpg","datePublished":"2018-10-23T08:18:15+00:00","dateModified":"2025-12-18T16:34:09+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/#\/schema\/person\/de5369aedc25d1f064871d823629e056"},"description":"Polyethylene is a plastic with outstanding material properties! \u2013 Find out more about its applications in the RCT online magazine!","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/en\/properties-and-applications-of-polyethylene\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/en\/properties-and-applications-of-polyethylene\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/en\/properties-and-applications-of-polyethylene\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/Eigenschaften-und-Verwendung-von-Polyethylen.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/Eigenschaften-und-Verwendung-von-Polyethylen.jpg","width":800,"height":532,"caption":"\u00a9 stefanie \/ Fotolia.com"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/en\/properties-and-applications-of-polyethylene\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/en\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Properties and Applications of Polyethylene"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/","name":"Reichelt Chemietechnik Magazine","description":"","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":"required name=search_term_string"}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/#\/schema\/person\/de5369aedc25d1f064871d823629e056","name":"Dr. Karl-Heinz Heise","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/KH_Heise.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/KH_Heise.jpg","caption":"Dr. Karl-Heinz Heise"},"description":"Dr. Karl-Heinz Heise studierte an der Martin-Luther Universit\u00e4t Halle-Wittenberg Chemie und der vormaligen Technischen Hochschule Dresden Radiochemie und Chemische Kerntechnik. 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