Polyethylene

Polyethylene, also known as PE, is a lightweight synthetic resin made from the polymerization of ethylene. It is a highly crystalline non-polar thermoplastic and can be easily melted and reshaped. Owing to this, polyethylene is popularly used for manufacturing a wide range of products such as clear food wrap, medical devices, bulletproof vests, shopping bags, etc. It is most commonly categorized into LDPE, HDPE, LLDPE and UHMWPE.

Polyethylene: or polythene is the most common plastic which is used as polyethylene foam, polyethylene sheet, and polyethylene fabric across industries. Polyethylene in cosmetics is also a significant application segment in the polyethylene market.

The key application of polythene is in the packaging industry, which is projected to grow at a CAGR of 4.6% through to 2025. This can be attributed to the increasing application of polythene in the flexible packaging industry. According to the Flexible Packaging Association (FPA), the industry is poised to grow at a CAGR of 11% through to 2021 due to properties such as being affordable and lightweight, coupled with growth in the packaged foods segment. Subsequently, the polyethylene market is expected to gain traction from growth of the flexible packaging industry.

Construction industry is a major consumer of polyethylene which is used in the form of sheets, plates, films, foils, and strips that offer plastic protection to floors. Furthermore, polyethylene is also used in pipes and fittings which form an integral part of construction activities. The construction industry is poised to witness growth in the future in order to fulfill the sustainable development goals set by the United Nations (UN).

Consumer goods such as bowls, buckets, water bottles, drums, dustbins and plumbing pipes, are a few polyethylene products utilized on a daily basis. Increased sales of consumer goods offer opportunities to vendors in the polyethylene market.

or low-density polyethylene is a polyolefin material which has a high molecular weight. It is non-toxic, non-contaminating in nature and is resistant to impact, moisture and chemicals. LDPE is widely employed for the manufacturing of various products such as packaging, trash bins, floor tiles, shipping envelopes, dropper bottles, etc. Its renewability properties have made it recognized and acceptable to several end-use industries.

Flexibility and toughness are the two unique qualities of low-density polyethylene which have been primarily responsible for its increasing demand.

It also possesses transparency properties and a white appearance which makes it suitable to be used for the production of bags for groceries, bread covers, bubble wraps, etc.

LDPE products are renewable in nature owing to which they can be recycled under certain conditions. This is also positively influencing its global demand.

Based on the manufacturing process, the market has been segmented as tubular method and autoclave method.

Based on the feedstock, the market has been segmented into naphtha, natural gas and others.

Based on the application, the market has been segmented as film and sheets, extrusion coatings, injection molding and others. Currently, film and sheets dominate the market, holding the largest share.

Region-wise, the market has been segmented into Asia Pacific, Europe, North America, Middle East and Africa, and Latin America. Amongst these, Asia Pacific is the leading market, accounting for the majority of the market share.

or High-density polyethylene, or HDPE, is a strong, moderately stiff plastic which has a highly crystalline structure. It is strong, relatively inexpensive and possess excellent process ability. HDPE plastic has several characteristics that make it an ideal material for packaging and manufacturing applications. It is tougher than standard polyethylene, acts as a powerful barrier against moisture and remains solid at room temperature. It is resistance to insects, rot and other chemicals. HDPE also does not create any harmful emissions during its manufacturing or during its use by the consumer. Furthermore, HDPE leaks no harmful chemicals into the soil or water.

HDPE finds use in numerous applications and Industries where strong impact resistance, excellent tensile strength, low moisture absorption, and chemical and corrosion resistance characteristics are required. On account of these properties, it is popularly used for manufacturing sanitary pipes as it has a tough chemical structure and is conveniently malleable. It has also gained popularity across the packaging industry as it is increasingly being used for the production of various products like bottle caps, food storage containers, bags, etc. Moreover, high density polyethylene has also been certified as a food grade polymer as a result of which it also finds applications in the food industry.

LLDPE or Linear Low-Density Polypropylene, has a significant number of short branches. Because it has shorter and more branches its chains are able slide against each other upon elongation without becoming entangled like LPDE which has long branching chains that would get caught on each other. This gives LLDPE higher tensile strength and higher impact and puncture resistance than the LDPE. It has a density of 0.91-0.94g/cm3.

UHMW or Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene, has extremely long chains, with molecular weight numbering in the millions (usually between 2 to 6 million). In general, HDPE molecules have between 700 and 1,800 monomer units per molecule, whereas UHMW molecules tend to have 100,000 to 250,000 monomers each. The chains of UHMW align in the same direction. The bonds between the chains are not very strong however, because they are so long there are more bonds holding it together then polyethylene with shorter chains. These long chains give UHMW high tensile strength. The longer chains serve to transfer load more effectively to the polymer backbone by strengthening intermolecular interactions. This causes the material to be very tough and gives it the highest impact strength of the polyethylene. It has a density of 0.928-0.941 g/cm3