polyethylene

[ pol-ee-eth-uh-leen ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

, Chemistry.

a plastic polymer of ethylene used chiefly for containers, electrical insulation, and packaging.

polyethylene

/ ˌpɒlɪˈɛθɪˌliːn /

polyethylene

/ pŏl′ē-ĕth′ə-lēn′ /

Any of various artificial resins consisting of many ethyl groups (CH 2 CH 2 ) joined end to end or in branched chains. Polyethylenes are easily molded and are resistant to other chemicals. They can be repeatedly softened and hardened by heating and cooling, and are used for many purposes, such as making containers, tubes, and packaging.

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First recorded in 1935–40; poly- + ethylene

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Even paints that stick to most plastics don’t grip to everything, especially polyethylene.

Taking apart polyethylene molecules, for instance, requires temperatures over 400° Celsius.

Stirring the film into a toluene solvent first dissolved the polyethylene layer.

Those alternating segments latch onto plastic molecules of the same kind in a mixture, bringing polyethylene and polypropylene together.

In a second test, the researchers mixed the compatibilizer into a melted blend of polyethylene and polypropylene.

These substances are relatively harmless compared to longer-living man-made plastics like polyethylene.

You seal each sample in a tiny polyethylene bag about ½ inch square.

No, I haven't; we have some rugs, most of them are wrapped in polyethylene.

Specimens were stored in glycerin in glass shell vials having polyethylene stoppers.

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