Polyethylene is a popular choice for outdoor furniture fabric and geotextiles.
It’s a manufactured fiber made of polymerized polyethylene units. It is often a monofilament, but is also available as continuous filament yarns and as staple fiber. Polyethylene yarn cannot be dyed. It is colored by the addition of pigments and dyes to the melt at extrusion. Polyethylene can be created in several different forms. The structure is determined by the amount of branching of ethylene polymer units on the main chain. The less branching the higher the density and stronger the fiber. Typical nomenclature for polyethylene (PE) includes low density PE (LDPE), medium density PE (MDPE), high density PE (HDPE), and ultra high molecular weight PE (UHMWPE).
See Also
Vinyl Sign Graphics and Low Energy Plastics
– SignwarehouseWhat is Polyethylene? Monomer, Types, Properties, Applications (with FAQs)Polypropylene (PP) Injection MoldingPolypropylene vs. Polyethylene: Material Differences and ComparisonsPolyethylene fiber properties:
- Low specific gravity (floats on water)
- Extremely low moisture regain
- Quick drying
- Mildew and insect resistant
- Chemical resistant
- Abrasion resistant
- Sunlight resistant
- Colorfast
Sample polyethylene applications:
- Geotextiles
- Outdoor furniture
- Industrial
- Filter fabric
Technical Data
| Tenacity (g/denier) | 2.6 - 4.2 |
| Elongation at break (%) | 65.0 |
| Shrinkage at 177°C (%) | 16.5 |
| Melting point (°F) | 220 - 255 |
| In flame | Burns slowly and melts |
| After flame | Continues to burn |
| Chemical resistance | Excellent resistance to acids and bases |
| Specific gravity (g/cc) | 0.91 |
| Moisture regain (%) | <1.0 |
