Low-density polyethylene

<p>Low-density polyethylene (LDPE) is a <a href="/facts/Thermoplastic/5KJB8dwN">thermoplastic</a> made from the <a href="/facts/Monomer/Gw3CltMb">monomer</a> <a href="/facts/Ethylene/QMNBYLYn">ethylene</a>. It was the first grade of <a href="/facts/Polyethylene/LaaAf4cn">polyethylene</a>, produced in 1933 by John C. Swallow and M.W Perrin who were working for <a href="/facts/Imperial_Chemical_Industries/XECoopCt">Imperial Chemical Industries</a> (ICI) using a high pressure process via <a href="/facts/Radical_polymerization/CbG5UqAd">free radical polymerization</a>. Its manufacture employs the same method today. The <a href="/facts/United_States_Environmental_Protection_Agency/ghI985SI">EPA</a> estimates 5.7% of LDPE (<a href="/facts/Resin_identification_code/8h5lau9N">resin identification code 4</a>) is recycled in the United States. Despite competition from more modern polymers, LDPE continues to be an important plastic grade. In 2013 the worldwide LDPE market reached a volume of about US$33 billion.
</p><p>Despite its designation with the recycling symbol, it cannot be as commonly recycled as <a href="/facts/Polyethylene_terephthalate/Sc5UhmCB">No. 1 (polyethylene terephthalate)</a> or <a href="/facts/High-density_polyethylene/9mUm98TQ">2 plastics (high-density polyethylene)</a>.
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Low-density polyethylene open-in-new

Low-density polyethylene