Buildings
Structure, lining, insulation or finish depending on family.
Darker cells mean a higher score for this topic on that metric.
Strength34
Heat resistance28
Fire performance16
Insulation44
Workability92
Circularity28
LessMore
Last reviewed Sources & creditsMedia creditsMethodology
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
Polyethylene earns its keep in systems: a beam, a batt, a fibre blend, a coated steel — rarely a lone coupon.
Products below are cultural landmarks as much as SKUs.
Sectors
Transport
Mass, fire and fatigue rewrite the grade list.
Energy
Heat, voltage and hydrogen compatibility.
Consumer
The volume that pays for the mill.
Medical / food
When allowed — extractables and allergies matter.
Defence / safety
Ballistics, FR clothing, fire stops.
Products
ICI Alketh
1939
HDPE bottle
1960s–
Dyneema
1979–
PE100 pipe
1990s–
Tupper box lore
1940s–
Geomembrane
1980s–
UHMW hip liner
1960s–
Stretch film
1970s–
Pairings
ptfe
The fluoropolymer that laughs at PE’s melting point.
polyester
PET bottles vs PE bottles — different recycle streams.
aramid
Ballistic fibre rival to UHMWPE.
polyurethane-foam
Another polymer insulation path.
If the pairing is wrong, the material will be blamed for a system fault.
Keep exploring
More in Polymers
🍳
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