Small translucent pieces of LDPE, LDPE granules are the predominant source of prime LDPE. 
Produced from crude oil, LDPE is a thermoplastic with great malleability, good chemical resistance, and a translucent color which can easily be dyed to produce vivid results.
The History of LDPE
Low density polyethylene was first produced for commercial purposes in the 1940’s. Its original discovery was much earlier, in 1898 by a German chemist called Hans von Pechmann. Originally, polypropylene was the result of heating diazomethane, a toxic and highly explosive material. The white translucent substance was dubbed polymethylene, and promptly forgotten about until different scientists working for a company known as ICI once again created the substance in 1933.
Because it was once more the product of an accident, industrial LDPE production did not begin for another six years as scientists worked to reproduce the reaction which produced the substance under controlled conditions. Though LDPE production eventually began in 1939, it was at first carried out under very high pressures and at very high temperatures. This was hardly economical, but the invention of two separate catalytic processes in the early 1950’s, namely the Phillips catalytic process and the Ziegler catalytic process, meant that polyethylene was much more economical to produce in large quantities.
Various types of polyethylene were produced, the LDPE, which was the original substance, and HDPE, a higher density version.
Polyethylene was a hard sell at first, but it soon caught on as manufacturers realized the versatility of this new material. Nowadays polyethylene can be found in virtually every home in the developed world, and it is estimated that over 60 million tonnes of LDPE are produced every year.
LDPE Properties
LDPE is a very popular type of plastic product because though it is strong, it is also highly malleable and machinable. LDPE is resistant to acids, bases and alcohols, and has some resistance to aldehydes, ketones and vegetable oils. At room temperature it is a solid and stable plastic with very low reactivity.
LDPE has a density of between 0.910 and 0.940 g/cm3..Its low density is a product of branching in both long and short chains. The many branches in the LDPE molecule give it less tensile strength than higher density polyethylenes, but more ductility, a property which refers to its ability to be bent and molded before reaching breaking point.
LDPE Uses
LDPE is used in a wide range of commercial and household applications. LDPE granules are an excellent source of raw product, melting down easily to produce a clear translucent material suitable for many manufacturing processes.
LDPE is often used to make containers for both the home and the laboratory, not to mention more dynamic uses such as in the case of flexible components, computer parts, play ground equipment and children’s toys.
Recycled LDPE Granules
LDPE is highly recyclable. If it is properly cleaned, and contaminants are removed successfully, it can be subjected to several heat cycles before it becomes structurally unsound. LDPE is recycled by the millions of tons every year, the bulk of recycled LDPE coming from kerbside reclamation programs.
Household containers made of LDPE are collected and sorted, cleaned and then baled up. Bales of post consumer LDPE are a viable commodity in their own right. They are purchased by recyclers who then take the time to unbale them, shred them, and put the post consumer LDPE through the stringent cleaning process which proceeds the production of reprocessed LDPE granules.
Though there is certainly a great deal of work involved in reprocessing LDPE, it is both a commercially and environmentally viable activity. Reprocessed LDPE cannot be used for applications where the product comes in contact with foodstuffs, nor does it retain the clear translucent coloration of virgin LDPE. It is nevertheless a safe and useful source of LDPE for many applications.
Supplier of LDPE Granules
We supply LDPE Granules of various grades and colours. Contact us through the below request for quote and we will get back to you within the day.