Polyethylene

27 April 2001 Jamila Richardson 1

Starting Up

Polyethylene was first produced by British company Imperial

Chemical Industries. Preparation required temperatures up to
200 deg C and pressures up to 2000atm.
Karl Ziegler prepared a high molecular weight polyethylene
at room temperature in 1952 while working at Dacron
Industries.
ICI polyethylene had shorter, branched chains, and was waxy
and easily deformed. Zieglers puppy was had and rigid, and
could easily be easily drawn into fibers.
Giulio Natta extended Zieglers research, eventually showing
how the geometry of polyethylene could be controlled by
certain catalysts (produced by Ziegler).

27 April 200 Jamila Richardson 2

Ethylene, the interesting
molecule
Ethylene, because of its double bond, is more reactive
than ethane. Double bonded carbons make molecule
more susceptible to bonding with other molecules.
When approached by another molecule, the double
bond splits; the carbons are joined by a single bond,
leaving the the molecule free to bond with both
carbons.
Ethylene is used in the ripening of fruit; it stimulates
the metabolic processes of the fruit by dissolving into
the cell membrane, therefore increasing its
permeability
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Formation and Structure

Ethylene-Ethylene
bond yields
polyethylene
(CH2CH2)n
polyethylene

Crystalline regions lie Pure

in alternating fashion polyethylene, low-
with amorphous and high-density
regions, which creates polyethylene
scattering of light (LDPE, HDPE)
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High-Density Polyethylene

Absence of branching results in a more closely

packed structure, more crystalline, higher density, and
chemical resistance slightly higher than that of LDPE.
Resists alcohols, acids, bases, esters, and aldehydes
Specific Gravity: 0.94 to 0.97
Melting point 130 to 135 deg C
Carbon chains can are 10,000 to 100,000 carbon
atoms long
Translucent

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Low-density Polyethylene
(LDPE)
Small amount of branching on the chain gives a
more open structure
Melting point of 109 to 125 deg C
Does not react at room temperature
Resists alcohols, esters, acids, and bases.
Limited resistance to aldehydes.
Translucent to opaque
Used for plastic food or garment bags, spray
bottles, plastic lids.
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Pure Polyethylene

Low density arises from minimal amount of

branching in chain, gives a more open structure.
Translucent to opaque
Resists acids, bases, esters, alcohols,
hydrocarbons. Limited resistance to aldehydes.
Does not react at room temperature
Translucent to opaque.

27 April 200 Jamila Richardson 7

Properties

Poylethylene is a solvent
for fats, oils, and grease.
Dissolving occurs slowly.
Electrons are tightly
trapped in their C-C and
C-H bonds, which results
in an inability of Thin film of polyethylene photographed
electrical current to flow. using polarized light. The pattern arises
form the presence of spherulites, or
Also results in inability regions where the polymer molecules have
for water and ions to aggregated into spheres.
penetrate interior of solid. Picture and caption from Molecules

27 April 200 Jamila Richardson 8

Other (Fun) Facts

Polyethylene is a
thermoplastic. That is, it
becomes soft and
malleable when heated,
and hard and solid when
cooled. (So, basically, its a plastic. Wow.)
Polyethylene is an
addition polymer. The
double bonds allow for
splitting and bonding
with other molecules.

27 April 200 Jamila Richardson 9

R-E-C-Y-C-L-E, Recycle. . .

Polyethylene does not

biodegrate unless first
oxidized.
Polyeofins are highly
susceptible to
photooxidation, or
oxidation caused by the
exposure to light.
Hindered-amine light
stabilizers are then used to
Polyethylene film, which is widely used for
prevent photooxidation. packaging, is formed by extruding the molten
plastic through a ring-like gap and inflating it like a
balloon.
Photo and caption from Molecules
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Well, thats it.

I hope you enjoyed my presentation.

BYE!

27 April 200 Jamila Richardson 11