Low-density Polyethylene - Linear Polymer With Narrow Molecular Weight Distribution | Low Temperature And Pressure Copolymerization For Enhanced Rheological Properties

Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE) is a substantially linear polymer (polyethylene) with significant numbers of short branches, commonly made by copolymerization of ethylene with longer-chain olefins. Linear low-density polyethylene differs structurally from conventional low-density polyethylene because of the absence of long chain branching. The linearity of LDPE results from the different manufacturing processes of LDPE and LLDPE. In general, LDPE is produced, at lower temperatures and pressures, by copolymerization of ethylene and such higher alpha olefins as butene, hexene, or octene. The copolymerization process produces an LDPE polymer that has a narrower molecular weight distribution than conventional LLDPE and in combination with the linear structure, significantly different rheological properties. LDPE is the parent grade of LLDP.