The world’s volume plastic — bags, bottles, pipes and the UHMWPE cousin in medical and ballistic fibre.
Also called: PE · HDPE · LDPE / LLDPE / UHMWPE
Polyethylene is one of 32 materials in this atlas, grouped under polymers: history, structure, measured properties, process routes, uses, safety and market — not a product catalogue.
Scores compare Polyethylene with the rest of the atlas on strength, heat, fire behaviour, insulation, workability and circularity. They are editorial, not certificates.
Seven chapters follow. Fire and insulation claims name test families (Euroclass, ASTM E84, ISO 5660, KS F) rather than inventing a single safety number.
Deep introduction
Polyethylene ((C2H4)n) is a family of grades whose density 0.91–0.97 g/cm³, heat band LDPE ~110 °C; HDPE ~130 °C, and fire letter combustible olefin.
Polyethylene is sold as grades, not as a single substance. Chemistry (C2H4)n, density 0.91–0.97 g/cm³, heat band LDPE ~110 °C; HDPE ~130 °C.
This atlas treats Polyethylene as a system: mill route, coatings, tests and the cavity it sits in.
Conductivity note: ~0.4 W/m·K. Insulation score 44/100 is relative to 32 entries — metals lose, VIPs and aerogels win.
Fire letter in editorial use: combustible olefin. Do not equate A1 with “safe in a blaze” or E with “illegal”. Assemblies decide.
Origin: ICI 1933 / Ziegler–Natta 1950s, United Kingdom / Germany. The process chapter follows feedstock → conversion → forming → finish → install.
Uses span buildings to defence / safety. Pairings matter: ptfe.
Producers below are landmarks, not an endorsement ranking. Prices are bands, not live quotes.
Circularity mark 28/100. Ask which scrap, which certificate, which year.
United Kingdom · 1939
ICI Alketh is a reference point in the public image of Polyethylene.
Global · 1960s–
HDPE bottle is a reference point in the public image of Polyethylene.
Netherlands · 1979–
Dyneema is a reference point in the public image of Polyethylene.
Europe · 1990s–
PE100 pipe is a reference point in the public image of Polyethylene.
United States · 1940s–
Tupper box lore is a reference point in the public image of Polyethylene.
Global · 1980s–
Geomembrane is a reference point in the public image of Polyethylene.
United Kingdom · 1960s–
UHMW hip liner is a reference point in the public image of Polyethylene.
Global · 1970s–
Stretch film is a reference point in the public image of Polyethylene.
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Same family or rival physics — pick a duel.
Closest neighbours on the six atlas axes — strength, heat, fire, insulation, workability and circularity.
Seed-hair cellulose that dressed the industrial revolution — still the comfort fibre of daily wear.
Overall 44 🎽The dominant apparel polymer — bottle-grade PET spun into staple that dries fast and sheds microfibres.
Overall 49 🛞Cis-1,4-polyisoprene from Hevea — tyres still drink most of the world’s latex.
Overall 44 🦋A kilometre-class animal filament — luxury cloth, sutures and a template for bio-inspired fibres.
Overall 41Plunkett’s slippery fluoropolymer — non-stick, chemical linings and a high-temp plastic that still has a fire-and-fume story.
Overall 41 🛞Cis-1,4-polyisoprene from Hevea — tyres still drink most of the world’s latex.
Overall 44 🫧Si–O backbone elastomers and resins — bakeware, medical tubing, façade sealants and a kinder high-temp story than carbon chains.
Overall 55