Material polyethylene (PE)

Polyethylene (PE) is a thermoplastic, i.e. a plastic that can be moulded under certain temperatures. Due to its special properties, it is one of the most widely used plastics. One of its advantages is that polyethylene (PE) is highly resistant to acids, alkalis, oils and fats.

PE was first produced in 1933, but it has only been indispensable since the 1950s, when more economical synthesis methods were developed.

Polyethylene (PE) is a thermoplastic. Thermoplastics consist of largely unbranched, linear macromolecules that can be plastically moulded when heat is applied and retain their shape after cooling. The process is reversible and the body can be remoulded when heat is applied again. Put simply, this means that thermoplastics can be remelted and their geometry changed.

Alongside PVC, PE is one of the most versatile thermoplastics. In its basic form, it is colourless, translucent to milky white, feels like wax and can be scratched. It can be dyed in any colour.

Different manufacturing methods can be used to produce polyethylene (PE) with a high density (HD-PE = high density polyethylene) or polyethylene with a low density (LD-PE = low density polyethylene).

• High-density PE (LDPE or soft PE) is soft and particularly flexible. It is cold-resistant down to -50 °C and heat-resistant up to a maximum of +60 °C.
• Low-pressure PE (HDPE or hard PE) is stiffer and more abrasion-resistant than soft PE. It is characterised by cold resistance down to -50 °C and heat resistance up to a maximum of +90 °C.

Both types have a lower density than water and are characterised in particular by the fact that they are very resistant to chemicals.

The material polyethylene (PE) not only has excellent resistance to chemicals, but also to oils, greases, acids and alkalis. Hoses made of polyethylene (PE) are therefore particularly suitable for demanding applications, e.g. for transporting aggressive gaseous and liquid media or for transporting fine-grained particles such as dusts and powders in the chemical industry.

Chemical resistance refers to the resistance of a material to various chemicals. In practice, a distinction is often made between "chemically resistant", "chemically conditionally resistant" and "chemically unresistant". A material is chemically resistant if it remains intact after prolonged contact with a chemical, i.e. its physical, chemical and mechanical properties remain unchanged. The term chemically inert is often used as a synonym.

Polyethylene (PE) is highly resistant to acids, alkalis and other chemicals. Polyethylene (PE) is particularly resistant to acetone, benzenes, toluenes and xylenes. It also absorbs hardly any water, is cold-resistant and can be welded very well.

What resistance do Ester-PUR, Ether-PUR and other plastics have to chemical substances? Check here which chemicals your materials are resistant to.

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