Product Description
Polyethylene CAS 9002-88-4 (PE) stands as the highest-volume high-performance polymer globally and dominates worldwide plastic resin production. It is available in multiple tailored grades to meet diverse manufacturing requirements. Low-density polyethylene (LDPE) is formulated for flexible finished goods, including plastic films and surface coatings. High-density polyethylene (HDPE) is the preferred option for rigid articles such as plastic bottles and storage containers; HDPE can also be extruded into ethylene fibers, which are widely fabricated into fishing nets, ropes and related textile products. Ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) represents a premium specialty grade, delivering a suite of outstanding mechanical traits: strong resistance to environmental stress cracking, minimal moisture absorption, exceptional fatigue resistance and superior impact strength. This specialty polymer is commonly used within textile machinery to manufacture wear-resistant and impact-bearing components, such as rubber joints, transmission gears and sealing washers.
Core Chemical Properties
| English Name | Polyethylene |
| English Synonyms | pad522;pe512;pe617;pen100;pep211;pes100;pes200;petrothene |
| CAS Number | 9002-88-4 |
| Molecular Formula | (C2H4) n |
| Molecular Weight | 28.05316 |
| EINECS Number | 618-339-3 |
| Melting point | 92 °C |
| Boiling point | 48-110 °C (Press: 9 Torr) |
| Density | 0.962 g/mL at 25 °C |
| Refractive index | 1.51 |
| Flash point | 270℃ |
| Storage conditions | -20℃ |
| Form | Powder |
| Color | White |
| Specific gravity | 0.95 |
| Biological origin | rabbit |
| Water solubility | Soluble in acetone and benzene. Insoluble in water. |
| Merck value | 147,567 |
| Dielectric constant | 2.2 (Ambient) |
| Stability | Stable, but slowly decomposes under UV light or sunlight. Incompatible with halogens, strong oxidizers, benzene, petroleum ether, aromatic hydrocarbons and chlorinated hydrocarbons, and lubricating oils. |
| Surface tension | 35.7 mN/m at 20°C |
Product Applications
Polyethylene is a thermoplastic resin produced by ethylene addition polymerization. Its molecular structure consists solely of carbon and hydrogen atoms, making it non-toxic. It delivers outstanding low-temperature performance with a minimum service temperature down to -100 °C and reliable chemical stability. Different grades of polyethylene serve distinct industrial purposes.
LDPE is commonly made into flexible films and surface coatings for packaging and agricultural use. HDPE is suitable for rigid molded products such as bottles, containers and pipe fittings. It can also be spun into ethylene fibers to produce fishing nets, ropes and industrial woven textiles. UHMWPE stands out for superior impact strength and wear resistance, used to fabricate gears, washers, buffer joints and other wear-resistant mechanical parts for textile machinery and general industrial equipment.
Thanks to good processability, polyethylene can be extruded or injection molded into wire and cable insulation sheaths, hollow containers, pipework and various molded components. It finds broad applications across packaging, agriculture, electrical, automotive, marine and general manufacturing sectors.
