Polyethylene facts for kids

A bottle made of LDPE

Polyethylene (also called polyethene, usually shortened to PE) is a thermoplastic. It is used in consumer goods, typical examples are transport wraps, and garbage bags. Other uses include pre-fabricated plastic parts, plastic tubes, and insulation of electric cables. Plastic wrap is usually less adhesive than PVC, but this can be remedied by adding linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE), which also increases the film's tensile strength. The world makes over 80 million tonnes of polyethylene per year.

Images for kids

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  The repeating unit within polyethylene in the most stable staggered conformation

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  A pill box presented to a technician at ICI in 1936 made from the first pound of polyethylene

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  Stainless steel and ultra high molecular weight polyethylene hip replacement

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  HDPE pipe on site during installation in outback Western Australia. The white outer layer is co-extruded to provide a reduction of thermal heating, known as Acu-Therm.

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  A recyclable bag manufactured from polyethylene, resin identification code

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  Say no to polythene. Sign. Nako, Himachal Pradesh, India.

See also

In Spanish: Polietileno para niños