Polyethylene

Polyethylene is the most widely used plastic and usually comes in the form of granules. By melting the granules, they can be converted into various end applications such as plastic bottles, plastic bags, packaging film, sheathing of electric cables, water and gas pipes, and technical fibers.

Polyethylene is made by polymerization of ethylene and can easily be recycled. Ethylene is obtained by breaking (cracking) products including naphtha, a derivative of light oil. It is estimated that 1.2% of the extracted oil is used to produce polyethylene. It contains only carbon (carbonium) and hydrogen (Hydrogenium) atoms.