Low-Density Polyethylene

LDPE (Low-Density Polyethylene) is perhaps the most common plastic you encounter, it very cheap and can be processed by all conventional methods.

Strength	Durability	Hardness	Weight
(2 / 5)	(3 / 5)	(2 / 5)	(4 / 5)
Elasticity	Flexibility	Fabrication	Availability
(2 / 5)	(4 / 5)	(5 / 5)	(5 / 5)

Advantages

Good impact strength, food safe, good chemical resistance,can be shaped by all common plastic processes, can easily be recycled.

Disadvantages

High thermal expansion, does not bond well (bad for gluing), can crack along stress lines, poor UV resistance, does not biodegrade

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Because LDPE is flexible you might see it as the lid on cheap air tight containers. While it can be bent it may crack along stress lines.
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Possibly the most common use of LDPE is as plastic bags or in a thin packaging film, lots of LDPE is recycled in this way.

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Due to it’s flexibility and low cost LDPE is a good choice for large items that don’t interact with sharp or rough environments.

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Advantages of LDPE?

Easy to recycle

• LDPE is very easy to recycle there is also a lot of it produced.
• Polyethelene is a thermoplastic means it can be heated and reshaped, however every melting process will degrade in quality to a certain degree.

Disadvantages of LDPE

Does not biodegrade

Image credit Polandeze

• Pollution from LDPE is a serious issue
• Some governments are banning or restricting use of LDPE in some markets.