Polyethylene (PE) is a kind of thermoplastic resin prepared by polymerization of ethylene. In industry, copolymers of ethylene and a small amount of α – olefins are also included. Polyethylene is odorless, nontoxic and waxy. It has excellent low temperature resistance (the lowest temperature can reach – 100 ~ – 70 ° C). It has good chemical stability and can resist the erosion of most acids and bases (it is not resistant to oxidizing acids). It is insoluble in general solvents at room temperature, has low water absorption and excellent electrical insulation.
Polyethylene resin is a non-toxic and tasteless white powder or particle, with milky white appearance, waxy handle and low water absorption, less than 0.01%. Polyethylene film is transparent and decreases with the increase of crystallinity. Polyethylene film is not suitable for fresh-keeping packaging, but suitable for moisture-proof packaging. Flammable, oxygen index is 17.4, low smoke, a small amount of melting drops, yellow flame and blue flame, paraffin smell. Polyethylene has good water resistance. The surface of the product has no polarity, so it is difficult to bond and print, and the surface treatment has improved. Many branched chains have poor resistance to photodegradation and oxidation.