1. POLYETHYLENE Monomers to Polymers

2. Created from the ethylene monomer. A thermoplastic (can be melted down and re-used) over 60M tons are produced worldwide every year POLYETHYLENE

3. Polyethylene is created through polymerization of ethylene (C 2 H 4 ). POLYETHYLENE

4. There are many different forms of polyethylene. CHAINS: POLYETHYLENE

5. BRANCHED: BRANCHED: POLYETHYLENE

6. CROSS-LINKED: CROSS-LINKED: POLYETHYLENE

7. POLYETHYLENE Polyethylene is classified into several different categories based mostly on its weight and branching weightbranching weightbranching These both determine its properties.

8. POLYETHYLENE UHMWPEUHMWPE UHMWPE UHMWPE(ultra high molecular weight PE) HDPEHDPE HDPE HDPE(high density PE) HDXLPEHDXLPE HDXLPE HDXLPE(high density cross-linkedcross-linked cross-linked cross-linkedPE) PEXPEX PEX PEX(cross-linked PE) MDPEMDPE MDPE MDPE(medium density PE) LDPELDPE LDPE LDPE(low density PE) LLDPELLDPE LLDPE LLDPE(linear low density PE) VLDPEVLDPE VLDPE VLDPE(very low density PE)

9. UHMWPE: ultra high molecular weight polyethylene Extremely long chains Linear Very packed Tough material Highest impact strength bulletproof vests orthopedic implants (artificial hips, knees) “ice-less” skating rinks POLYETHYLENE

10. LLLL iiii nnnn eeee aaaa rrrr - (stronger) More t t t t t eeee nnnn ssss iiii llll eeee s s s s tttt rrrr eeee nnnn gggg tttt hhhh (doesn’t deform easily) Lower d d d d d uuuu cccc tttt iiii llll iiii tttt yyyy (breaks easily) More expensive to make USES: Sandwich bags Laundry detergent bottles Grocery bags HDPE (high density polyethylene)

11. BBBB rrrr aaaa nnnn cccc hhhh iiii nnnn gggg (weaker) Lower t t t t t eeee nnnn ssss iiii llll eeee s s s s tttt rrrr eeee nnnn gggg tttt hhhh (deforms easily) Higher d d d d d uuuu cccc tttt iiii llll iiii tttt yyyy (doesn’t break easily) Molecules are less tightly packed Cheapest/easiest to make USES: wash bottles Saran wrap most common = dry-cleaning bags LDPE (low density polyethylene)