polüetüleeen
Polüetüleeen is the common name in several European languages for the synthetic polymer polyethylene. It is the simplest of the aliphatic polymers, consisting of long chains of carbon atoms bonded to hydrogen. The polymer is produced by the catalytic polymerisation of ethylene, an unsaturated hydrocarbon derived from petroleum or natural gas. Two main industrial processes produce polüetüleeen: the low‑pressure (vulcanisation) method, which gives a relatively flexible, low‑density product, and the high‑pressure method that yields a denser, more rigid material. A third, the metallocene‑catalysed route, allows precise control over molecular weight and tacticity, enabling tailor‑made properties.
The resulting polymer is chemically inert, resistant to acids and many bases, and has a very low
Environmental concerns are largely driven by its persistence in ecosystems. Polüetüleeen degrades slowly, breaking down into