Polyethylene

Polyethylene or polythene (abbreviated PE; IUPAC name polyethene or poly(methylene)) is the most commonly produced plastic. It is a polymer, primarily used for packaging (plastic bags, plastic films, geomembranes and containers including bottles, etc.). As of 2017, over 100 million tonnes of polyethylene resins are being produced annually, accounting for 34% of the total plastics market.

Many kinds of polyethylene are known, with most having the chemical formula (C2H4)n. PE is usually a mixture of similar polymers of ethylene, with various values of n. It can be low-density or high-density and many variations thereof. Its properties can be modified further by crosslinking or copolymerization. All forms are nontoxic as well as chemically resilient. As a consequence of these factors, PE is used on an immense scale. Its widespread use is also problematic because it resists biodegradation. Like the hydrocarbon it is, PE is white or colorless and combustable.

The primary uses of polyethylene are in packaging film, garbage bags, grocery bags, insulation for wires and cables, agricultural mulch, bottles, toys, and houseware. Polythene is also used in trays, fruit juice containers, milk containers, crates, and food packaging products.