Is Polyethylene a Polymethylene?

Polyethylene or polythene (abbreviated PE; IUPAC name polyethene or poly(methylene)) is the most common plastic in use today. It is a polymer, primarily used for packaging (plastic bags, plastic films, geomembranes and containers including bottles, etc.).

What classification is polyethylene?

PE is classified as a “thermoplastic” (as opposed to “thermoset”), based on the way the plastic responds to heat. Thermoplastic materials become liquid at their melting point (110-130 degrees Celsius in the case of LDPE and HDPE respectively).

Is polyethylene plastic a compound?

Although plastic is composed of several different organic molecules, one in particular is called polyethylene. Polyethylene is an organic polymer made of several monomer subunits, and it is one popular compound.