Both high-density polyethylene and low-density polyethylene are two common plastics made from petroleum.

Because of its wide range of uses, plastic forms an integral part of everyday life and has both an economic and environmental impact. HDPE Properties o HDPE can withstand temperatures of up to 120 degrees Celsius. It is translucent and rigid and is resistant to many different chemicals. LDPE Properties o LDPE can withstand temperatures of up to 80 degrees Celsius. It is translucent and flexible and is resistant to many different chemicals. Common Uses of HDPE o The rigid nature of HDPE allows manufacturers to use it for food product and chemical containers. Other uses for HDPE include trays, cutting boards, pipe fittings and tanks. Common Uses of LDPE o The flexible nature of LDPE lends itself to films. Manufacturers produce plastic bags from LDPE. Other uses include wash bottles and tubing. Economic and Environmental Impact o According to the American Chemistry Council's Resin Production and Sales Stats report, released in November 2009, HDPE is the most common plastic and LDPE is the fifth most common plastic produced in the U.S. The slow rate at which plastic degrades vs. the amount produced makes the disposal of it an environmental issue

Low density polyethylene (LDPE) is a thermoplastic polymer that has been around since the 1930s. It has hundreds of uses, from six-pack rings to playground slides, although its main use is in blown film. LDPE has several important advantages over other materials which could serve the same function. Physical Properties o LDPE is typically soft and flexible, yet it has good impact resistance, especially at low temperatures. It is readily processed in molten form and its viscosity and flow properties are such that it can easily be blown into thin films. This makes it a good candidate for thin film applications such as plastic shopping bags and plastic wrap. LDPE also has very low conductivity which makes it useful as an electrical insulator. Chemical Resistance o LDPE is resistant to attack or solvation by a wide variety of common chemicals. It has good or excellent resistance to acids and bases as well as many typical solvent types, including alcohols, aldehydes and esters. It can also

withstand basic sterilization techniques, including gamma radiation, ethylene oxide gas and disinfectants such as benzalkonium chloride and formaldehyde. Cost o Due to its relative ease of manufacture, availability of raw feedstock and the enormous scale on which it is produced, LDPE is a very inexpensive plastic. Per pound, the only other plastics which are in the same range of cost are polypropylene and other forms of polyethylene such as high density polyethylene. Other common plastics such as polystyrene, nylon and PET are three to 10 times as expensive. Other Advantages o LDPE belongs to the class of polymers known as olefins. These are plastics made from starting chemicals which contain carbon to carbon double bonds. Such plastics typically have high resistance to moisture penetration and LDPE is no exception. Its moisture resistance is helpful in various applications such as food packaging where water is either meant to be sealed in or kept out. LDPE also can be produced with fairly high clarity, or transparency. This is helpful in applications such as wrapping where it may be beneficial to see the product under wrap. HDPE (high-density polyethylene) plastic is a linear polymer (a polymer that does not branch or cross-link) generated from ethylene using a catalyzing process. Applications o HDPE plastic has several applications, including packaging for foods (milk and snacks, for example) and cleaners. It is also used for pipe fittings, trays and hinges. Processing o High-density polyethylene plastics are suitable for several manufacturing processes including injection molding, extrusion molding and blow molding. Characteristics o HDPE plastic is resistant to acids, bases, alcohol and vegetable oils, as well as being impact resistant. It is also resistant to sustained heat of about 110 degrees Celsius. Disadvantages o High-density polyethylene plastics have poor resistance to UV (ultraviolet) light. HDPE does not biodegrade in landfill settings, nor can it be composted. Recycling o HDPE is a recyclable material and is falls under No. 2 of the plastic resin code. Recycled HDPE is used in pallets, drainage pipes and packaging.

LDPE is an acronym for low-density polyethylene. This type of plastic can be identified in many products we use with the resin code, or recycling number, 4. Description o According to the American Chemistry Council (ACC), LDPE is primarily used in film applications because it is tough, flexible and relatively transparent. LDPE is also used to produce some flexible lids and bottles as well as in wire and cable applications. Properties o The ACC reports that LDPE has an excellent resistance to acids, bases and vegetable oils. Its toughness, flexibility and relative transparency make it good for packaging applications requiring heat-sealing. Product Applications o LDPE is used to make many thin, flexible products like plastic bags for drycleaning, newspapers, bread, frozen foods, fresh produce and garbage. Most shrink-wrap and stretch film is also made out of LDPE, as well as coatings for paper milk cartons and disposable beverage cups. Manufacturers also use LDPE to create thin container lids, squeezable bottles and some toys. Recycling LDPE o Most areas offer recycling for products made with LDPE and linear lowdensity polyethylene (LLDPE), which also features a recycling number 4. Like all other types of plastic, LDPE can take hundreds of years to decompose in the landfill, so products that are made exclusively of LDPE should be recycled if possible. Some areas don't offer recycling for plastic bags made from LDPE, but these can be reused instead. Products Made with Recycled Content o Recycled LDPE can be used to produce shipping envelopes, garbage can liners, floor tile, paneling, furniture, compost bins, trashcans, landscape timber and outdoor lumber, according to the ACC

Low-density polyethyline, or LPDE, is a type of film constructed for structural strength and resistance to impact and chemical breakdown. Like all film, it is physically described as a piece of plastic much longer and wider than it is thick. It is commonly used in applications where corrosion resistance is needed but high temperatures and the film's stiffness are not concerns.

Physical Appearance LDPE film can be many colors, densities and thicknesses. Its primary distinguishing characteristic is its ability to retain integrity while being stretched or otherwise deformed. This property of LDPE film is most observable in plastic bags

constructed from it, such as trash bags, which can withstand a great deal of strain before their structure is compromised. Moleculare Chains in LDPE LDPE is, on the molecular level, constructed of chains of monomer ethylene, which can vary in length and in how much branching they do. The length of the these chains will determine the density of the plastic film as well as its specific properties.

Chain Branching Because LDPE has more chain branching than other plastic films, the molecules are less able to interact. This reduces the overall rigidity of all LPDE films compared to other non-LDPE plastic films. This property also makes it more resilient and resistant to tear or puncture, making it an ideal plastic for use in a wide variety of applications that require some stretching, such as garbage bags, ice trays and cable sheathes.

Recycling and Breaking Down The molecular structure of LDPE allows it to be completely recycled for a variety of uses, from plastic components in toys, bottle caps and typewriter ribbons to soft filling in pillows and clothing. If not recycled, LDPE is considered nonbiodegradable, as it will take several centuries to degrade. Recent studies in the application of bacteria to discarded LDPE have yielded some success in breaking it down much faster, and research is being done in this area.

Polyethylene (PE) is one of the most commonly used plastics today. Developed in 1933, it is now used mostly for packaging items. It is classified based on types of branching and the property's density. Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE) and High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) are two forms of PE. Characteristics of LDPE o LDPE was the first PE to be developed. It has low-density levels and only a small amount of branching. It is very flexible and easy to clean. It is often used to make plastic film wrap and plastic bags. Additionally, it is used to make plastic items that need to be molded, such as plastic bottles used in labs and some prostheses. Characteristics of HDPE o HDPE has higher density levels; it is also characterized by a linear structure consisting of no branching. That makes HDPE stronger and more resistant to chemicals. It is most commonly used for items requiring blow molding techniques, such as toys, automobile parts and bottles. It is also used to create cutting boards since it meets FDA food service standards. Environmental Concerns

o Although most of these plastics can be recycled, much of it ends up in our trash cans. There are concerns in the environmental industry that, since these plastics do not break down easily in a landfill, there will be many future negative effects due to our overuse of these products.

There are over 50 different types of plastics and hundreds of varieties within each group. Fortunately, many forms of plastic are recyclable; the question is simply how and where to recycle each variety. In an effort to maximize recycling and make sorting of plastic types easier for consumers, The American Society of Plastics Industry created a code by which to sort plastic containers. The code is shown as a number on the bottom of a container, ranging from numbers one to seven, and includes six specific plastic types and one category for "other" plastics that do not fall into any other categories.

PET Polyethylene terephthalate, or PET, is the form of plastic commonly used to make carbonated beverage and soda bottles, as well as microwaveable trays for frozen meals. PET plastics are denoted by the number 1 and are widely accepted for recycling by city collection programs.

HDPE High-density polyethylene, or HDPE, is the plastic used to make milk bottles and containers for some cleaning products. It is denoted by the number 2 and is also widely accepted for recycling.

PVC Polyvinyl chloride, or PVC, is another plastic frequently used to make frozen food trays, plastic wrap and bottles (like those used to package shampoo). It is denoted by the number 3 and can be more difficult to recycle as it is rarely accepted by local recycling programs. Bottle re-use is a good option if recycling services are not readily available.

LDPE Low-density polyethylene, or LDPE, is used to make plastic grocery and garbage bags. Again, reuse is an ideal option for these items in lieu of recycling. However, LDPE, denoted by the number 4, is recyclable, and many grocery stores offer bag recycling programs for customers. Ask about bag recycling collection at your local grocery store.

PP Polypropylene, or PP, is marked by the number 5 and is often used for butter and margarine tubs, frozen meal trays, yogurt and cottage cheese tubs and many other product packages. PP plastics are difficult to avoid and difficult to recycle. (Many collectors will accept but not recycle PP plastics). Preserve, a company that makes personal care products including toothbrushes and razors out of recycled PP plastics, recently initiated collection of these items at Whole Foods stores. Re-use

your 5 plastics for food storage or drop them off at the nearest Whole Foods and support eco-friendly hygiene. PS Polystyrene, or PS, is used to make foam-style containers for meat, fish, eggs, snack packaging and packing materials for toys and electronic products. These plastics are marked with a number 6 and are not generally accepted by recycling programs. Reduce your need for (and potential waste of) these items by purchasing fresh, paper-wrapped meat, poultry and seafood, eggs in cardboard containers, and used or reclaimed toys and electronics when appropriate.

Other Plastics Plastics that do not fall into the above-listed categories are marked with the number 7 and can be found in a variety of plastic products. Recycling options for such items will vary; consult your local recycling center for guidance and, as always, reuse your plastic products whenever possible to conserve resources and prevent waste

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