Polyethylene, also PE for short, is a thermoplastic polymer with variable crystalline structures and a number of applications, dependent upon the type of machine. It is one of the most used and produced plastics in the world. Tens of millions of tons are produced each year across the globe.
Polyethylene is a thermoplastic, meaning it responds to heat by melting and becoming plastic. They can be cooled and reheated to be used again without losing much of its material makeup due to dehydration. They do not burn, but liquify, making them easily moldable and recyclable.
This material is non-toxic and is often used for many vital components of daily life, such as food handling and other construction materials, but should never be ingested.
Each type of polyethylene has a different purpose. High-density polyethylene (HDPE) is used for construction purposes, such as drainage pipes and other McElroy Parts. It is a robust and moderately stiff plastic that can withstand heavy weight due to its crystalline structure. Low-density polyethylene (LDPE is used for plastic packaging and plastic wraps and is flexible with unique flow properties. It has low tensile strength.
Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UHMW) is a high-performance application for medical devices and can even be more robust than steel. Linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) is similar to LDPE but can be altered by adjusting formula and production processes to become less energy-intensive.
There are many types of McElroy Fusion Parts made of polyethylene. You can find manual, acrobat, dynamic, pitbull, rolling, tracstar, megamc, talon, and automated units on our website.