1. Definitions

Although their basic unit is the same, today there are several types of polyethylene, the most common of which are as follows:

• chlorinated polyethylene (PE-C) ;

• high-density polyethylene (PE-HD) ;

• low-density polyethylene (LDPE) ;

• linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) ;

• medium-density polyethylene (MDPE) ;

• ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (PE-UHMW) ;

• very low-density polyethylene (VLDPE).

The names and abbreviations of these polymer types are standardized (NF EN ISO 1043-1). However, the same cannot be said of their properties.

While it is well accepted that HD-PE has a...