Polyethylene

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Description

Polyethylene is one of many commercially important organic compounds derived from crude oil. This program demonstrates the polymerization of ethylene at different pressures and in the presence of different catalysts, depending on the intended end use of the polyethylene-low-density polyethylene for flexible products like film and plastic bags is produced at between 1500 and 2000 atm with trace oxygen as the catalyst; for resilient, tough, high-density polyethylene, reaction pressures are 5 to 30 atm and titanium chloride and aluminum chloride catalysts are used. The program also shows the molding of polyethylene into commercial products and the testing and analytical techniques used to determine their properties. Some of the advantages and disadvantages of replacing wood and glass with plastic products are discussed.