What kind of plastic is PE?
PE (Polyethylene, Polyethylene) is one of the most common thermoplastics used in the chemical industry. It is widely used in various fields and has become the material of choice in many industries due to its excellent physical properties and economy. In this article, we will analyse in detail the types of PE plastics, their properties and their main applications to help you better understand this important plastic material.
Basic Overview of PE Plastics
PE plastic (polyethylene) is a polymer material produced by polymerisation of ethylene monomer. Depending on the pressure and temperature during the polymerisation process, PE plastics can be classified into several main types such as low density polyethylene (LDPE), high density polyethylene (HDPE) and linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE). Each type of PE plastic has its own unique structure and properties for different application scenarios.
Types of PE plastics and their properties
Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE)
LDPE is produced by high-pressure polymerisation of ethylene, which contains more branched chains in its structure and therefore exhibits a lower degree of crystallinity.LDPE is characterised by its softness, toughness, transparency and impact resistance, and is commonly used in the production of films, plastic bags and food packaging. Despite its relatively low strength and hardness, LDPE’s good processability and low cost make it important in packaging materials.

High Density Polyethylene (HDPE)
HDPE is polymerised under low pressure and has a more linear molecular structure, resulting in higher crystallinity and density.The advantages of HDPE are its excellent chemical resistance, abrasion resistance and tensile strength, while it also has low permeability. These properties make HDPE widely used in the manufacture of pipes, containers, bottles and chemically resistant components, among others.

Linear Low Density Polyethylene (LLDPE)
LLDPE is made by co-polymerising polyethylene with small amounts of copolymer monomers (e.g. butene, hexene) at low pressure. It combines the flexibility of LDPE with the strength of HDPE, while exhibiting superior impact resistance and stretchability.LLDPE is commonly used to make high-strength films, such as stretch films, agricultural films, etc.

Main application areas of PE plastics
Due to the variety and superior performance of PE plastics, its application areas are very wide. In the packaging industry, PE plastics are often used to make various types of plastic films, bags and packaging containers. In the field of pipes, HDPE is commonly used in the production of water supply and drainage pipes, gas pipes, etc. due to its excellent chemical resistance and mechanical properties. In household products, PE plastics are widely used to produce bottles, containers and other plastic products. In the field of agriculture, LLDPE and LDPE are widely used to make agricultural films to provide plant protection and soil cover.
To summarise
What is PE plastic? It is a versatile, economical and widely used thermoplastic. By understanding the different types of PE plastic and their properties, businesses and consumers can better choose the right material for their needs. From packaging and tubing to household products, PE plastic plays an important role in modern life with its unique benefits. If you are confused when choosing plastic materials, we hope this article can provide you with valuable reference information.