Commodity
Index-linkedBulk Polyethylene follows a global index more than a boutique mill.
Darker cells mean a higher score for this topic on that metric.
Strength34
Heat resistance28
Fire performance16
Insulation44
Workability92
Circularity28
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Last reviewed Sources & creditsMedia creditsMethodology
Quick answers
Is Polyethylene non-combustible?
Declared reaction class in this atlas: combustible olefin. Assemblies still need resistance tests.
Does Polyethylene insulate?
Thermal mark 44/100 versus the atlas. Conductivity note: ~0.4 W/m·K.
What is the density band?
0.91–0.97 g/cm³
How is it made?
Origin story: ICI 1933 / Ziegler–Natta 1950s (United Kingdom / Germany).
Can it be recycled?
Circularity mark 28/100 — editorial, route-specific.
Typical melting or failure heat?
LDPE ~110 °C; HDPE ~130 °C
heat 28 · fire 16
Prices are bands. A 2024 coil is not a 2026 contract. Labour and certification often dwarf the commodity.
Producers listed are landmarks for orientation, not a ranking or a procurement list.
Cost bands
Specified grade
PremiumTight chemistry, cleanliness or certification multiplies the unit price.
System
InstalledBoards, coats and labour dwarf kilogram prices.
Certified / medical / aero
HighestPaperwork is the product.
Trial / green route
PolicyLow-carbon or bio routes still trade on certificates.
Regions
East Asia
Volume production and finishing.
Europe
Standards (EN, Euroclass) and specialty.
North America
ASTM / NFPA language and large domestic mills.
Korea / Japan
High-spec sheet, fibres, electronics-adjacent ceramics.
Resource belts
Ore, plantations or energy that feed primary routes.
Global trade
Polyethylene moves as coils, bales, boards or chemicals — check HS codes, not vibes.
Key numbers
0.91–0.97 g/cm³Density
~0.4 W/m·KThermal
combustible olefinFire letter
44Atlas insulation
Producers
LyondellBasell
Unipol licensing heritage.
Dow
LLDPE and packaging.
ExxonMobil
Gas-phase PE.
SABIC
Gulf crackers.
Sinopec
Chinese volume.
DSM / Avient fibres
UHMWPE fibre lineage.
Ask for the route (primary, scrap, bio) before believing a green label.
Keep exploring
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