Strength band
commodity PE modest; UHMWPE fibre among the strongest by weight
Darker cells mean a higher score for this topic on that metric.
Strength34
Heat resistance28
Fire performance16
Insulation44
Workability92
Circularity28
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Quick answers
Is Polyethylene non-combustible?
Declared reaction class in this atlas: combustible olefin. Assemblies still need resistance tests.
Does Polyethylene insulate?
Thermal mark 44/100 versus the atlas. Conductivity note: ~0.4 W/m·K.
What is the density band?
0.91–0.97 g/cm³
How is it made?
Origin story: ICI 1933 / Ziegler–Natta 1950s (United Kingdom / Germany).
Can it be recycled?
Circularity mark 28/100 — editorial, route-specific.
Typical melting or failure heat?
LDPE ~110 °C; HDPE ~130 °C
heat 28 · fire 16
Numbers below are bands used by working engineers, not live quotes. Tensile note: commodity PE modest; UHMWPE fibre among the strongest by weight.
Fire performance in this atlas is editorial. Real projects need the assembly report.
Mechanical
Stiffness
Modulus follows chemistry and orientation — not the marketing nickname.
Toughness
Crack growth, not peak stress, retires most real parts.
Fatigue / creep
Cyclic and time-dependent damage dominate certificates issued on static coupons.
Hardness / hand
Indentation, drape or compressive class — whichever the trade actually measures.
Thermal
Conductivity
~0.4 W/m·K — Polyethylene is not a substitute for a dedicated λ layer.
Service temperature
Melting / softening / decomposition band: LDPE ~110 °C; HDPE ~130 °C.
Expansion
Joints and clearances must follow the expansion class of Polyethylene, not of steel-by-habit.
Thermal mass
Density 0.91–0.97 g/cm³ sets how fast a section changes temperature.
Ageing of λ
Foams, VIPs and moist batts drift; quote aged values.
Electrical
Conductor or dielectric
Polyethylene is generally a dielectric or semiconductor film, not building wire.
Static / EMI
Fillers and moisture change resistivity more than brochures admit.
Standards language
IACS, volume resistivity or dielectric strength — pick the quantity the job uses.
Fire
Reaction to fire
Typical declared class: combustible olefin. This is not a universal passport.
Resistance vs reaction
Euroclass is reaction. EI/R ratings are assemblies — boards, coats, cavities.
Melt-drip / char
Polyethylene can burn or drip; do not treat it as A1 without a system test.
Smoke / toxicity
CO, HCN, HF or fibres — the species depend on chemistry. Name the test (ISO 5659, EN 45545, NFPA 1971).
If a salesperson quotes a single “safety score”, ask which standard, which thickness, which year.
Keep exploring
More in Polymers
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PTFE
Plunkett’s slippery fluoropolymer — non-stick, chemical linings and a high-temp plastic that still has a fire-and-fume story.
Overall 41 🛞Natural rubber
Cis-1,4-polyisoprene from Hevea — tyres still drink most of the world’s latex.
Overall 44 🫧Silicone
Si–O backbone elastomers and resins — bakeware, medical tubing, façade sealants and a kinder high-temp story than carbon chains.
Overall 55