This particular polymer is synthesized from long chains of ethylene monomers that are composed of carbon and hydrogen and form double covalent bonds in a number of structural configurations. Because it is available in many forms, polyethylene is the most commonly used plastic. Read More…
Leading Manufacturers
All Plastics and Fiberglass, Inc.
Mobile, AL | 800-226-1134All Plastics and Fiberglass performs fabrication for fiberglass and plastics. Among the standard products we produce are ducts, grating, structural shapes, pipe hangers and tanks. We do custom fabrication on tanks and pipe hangers. We also make prefabricated piping systems, handrails and more. We have built a reputation on high quality and superior service for more than two decades.
Cope Plastics, Inc.
Alton, IL | 800-851-5510Cope Plastics maintains one of the industry's largest inventories, stocking a wide variety of plastics to meet our customers’ needs for engineering materials, sheet plastics, specialty industrial products and tubing. We assist with design and we manufacture production parts in our ISO-certified facilities.
San Diego Plastics, Inc.
National City, CA | 619-477-4855San Diego Plastics, Inc has a huge selection of plastic materials. Call us today for plastic sheet, rod, tube, film, expanded foam sheet, corrugated sheet, boards, panels and structured sheet. An assortment of acrylic, polycarbonate, PVC, polypropylene & polyethylene in various colors, patterns, textures, thicknesses & grades.
Auburn Plastics & Rubber
Indianapolis, IN | 317-352-1565Since 1967, Auburn Plastics & Rubber has been a leading manufacturer of plastic and rubber products. We are a family-owned company built on creating relationships with our customers and manufacturing high-quality products. Auburn Plastics & Rubber is your one-stop shop for all your plastic needs.
CS Hyde Company
Lake Villa, IL | 800-461-4161CS Hyde has been providing high-end plastic materials since our founding in 1996, and has become a leading distributor and converter to a wide variety of markets. Materials we have available include Teflon Fluoroplastic, PTFE, Mylar®, Kevlar®, and more. We utilize the most high-tech converting equipment to provide superior products to our customers in a short time frame. It is our continuous mission to provide the highest quality products, innovate new solutions, and exceed expectations.
Professional Plastics
Fullerton, CA | 888-995-7767Supplier of engineering plastic materials—plastic sheets, plastic rods, plastic tubing & film. Products include Delrin®, Nylon, Teflon®, Vespel®, Torlon®, PEEK, Techtron®, PPS, Semitron®, Ultem®, PVDF, PVC, Acrylic, Polycarbonate, PCTFE, PFA, FEP and more.
All Plastics and Fiberglass, Inc. - All Plastics and Fiberglass, Inc.Annual production rates for this plastic alone are approximately eighty million metric tons. Such a large number is necessary to accommodate the incredible diversity of objects made from polyethylene. Polyethylene manufacturers fabricate bottles, packaging sheets, shower curtains, pipes, wire insulation, plastic bags and containers, bulletproof vests, artificial knees and hip replacement components, flooring, storage and more.
Resistant to water, acids, alkalis, solvents and chemical corrosion, polyethylene is popular in automotive, packaging, transport, medical, pharmaceutical, food and chemical processing, entertainment and electronics industries, to name a few. While this plastic is non-biodegradable, it is recyclable; it can be melted, remolded and rehardened numerous times. Additionally, researchers have been developing new techniques aimed at synthesizing polyethylene from components found in sugarcane in order to create bioplastics.
While bioplastics continue to be studied, most polyethylene is synthesized from ethylene, though several different methods for this are possible. Radical polymerization, anionic addition polymerization, ion coordination polymerization and cationic polymerization are all used in the production of polyethylene through heat and pressurization.
As each process results in a slightly different type of polyethylene, the plastics are classified based on density and branching or crystallization. The three main categories are high-density polyethylene, which has a melting point in the range of 120 to 130°C, low-density polyethylene, which melts at around 115°C, and finally medium-density polyethylene. In total there are ten different divisions including ultra high density and very low density, but the main three will often suffice.
Polyethylene manufacturers utilize these polymer resins forming them into plastic rods, sheets and films through injection molding, casting and extrusion. While stock forms such as these may sometimes be used as the finished product, most will undergo additional operations. Secondary processes employed on plastic materials such as these include drilling, welding, fastening, turning, milling and precision machining. It is important to consider both the manufacturing processes and finish product when selecting a polymer.
