Under the polyethylene class of materials, Low density polyethylene (LDPE) has shaped the packaging and manufacturing industry’s landscape, Being the oldest and most mature of the polyethylene’s. LDPE was first produced in 1933 by Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI) using a high-pressure process via free radical polymerization. Its manufacturers employ the same method today. It is a highly branched polyethylene, having various amounts of short and long branches, giving it a density range of 917-930 kg/m3. Although it does not have the other polyethylene’s strength, LDPE has good clarity and processability due to its short and long chain branches. It is also more flexible than other polyethylene’s. Other advantages of LDPE are listed below:

Impact resistant from -40 C to 90 C

Moisture resistance

Good chemical resistance

Good electrical insulation

Easy to process and mould

Food grades available

Readily processed by all thermoplastic methods