Polythene" redirects here. For the Feeder album, see Polythene (album).
Polyethylene
Skeletal formula of a polyethylene monomer
Spacefill model of polyethylene
Sample of granulated polyethylene
Names
IUPAC name
Polyethene or poly(methylene)
Other names
Polyethene
Identifiers
CAS Number
9002-88-4 Yes
Abbreviations PE
KEGG C19503 Yes
MeSH Polyethylene
Properties
Chemical formula
(C2H4)n
Density 0.91–0.96 g/cm3[1]
Melting point 115–135 °C (239–275 °F; 388–408 K)[1] (239–275 °F)
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
Infobox references
The repeating unit of polyethylene in the most stable staggered conformation.
Polyethylene (abbreviated PE) or polyethene (IUPAC name polyethene or poly(methylene)) is the most common plastic. The annual global production is around 80 million tonnes.[2] Its primary use is in packaging (plastic bags, plastic films, geomembranes, containers including bottles, etc.). Many kinds of polyethylene are known, with most having the chemical formula (C2H4)n. Thus, PE is usually a mixture of similar polymers of ethylene with various values of n.