Polyethylene foam is one of the best materials and uses we have for plastic. It is used in many different industries, including furniture, medical, and packaging.
Polyethylene foam is inexpensive and lightweight, making it one of the best foams for use in outdoor furniture because of its enormous UV resistance.
However, it is often mistaken as polyurethane, which is another material altogether. Let's learn more about both of them below.
Polyethylene: Made from common commercial plastic
Polyethylene is made from ethylene, which comes from natural gas, and transforms into this state through polymerization, which is the process of combining many small molecules to produce a new chemical.
This means that the molecules are arranged in long chains. The ethylene is heated and then subjected to a chemical reaction that changes one of the hydrogens into a double bond with the carbon.
Polyethylene is a type of plastic that is a major component of plastic bags, containers, toys, and more.
Polyurethane: Elastic and industrial-grade
Polyurethane foam is created by combining polyols, isocyanates, and polymers.
Polyols are the ingredients that provide the foam's "softness" and are derived from petroleum. The polyol is combined with isocyanate, which is a colorless liquid that hardens when combined with the polyol.
The mixture is then heated to create the three basic ingredients of polyurethane foam. The mixture is mixed in a reactor to create foam.
Polyurethane foam is typically used in the manufacturing of furniture, insulation, packaging materials, and lighting.
Polyethylene: Easily recyclable and transformable
Polyethylene can be melted and injection molded into a new product. It is easily recyclable because it does not contain hazardous materials.
Polyurethane: Thermoset and Final
Polyurethane is a polymer, which means that it is a long chain of molecules. Polyurethane can be difficult to recycle because the molecules in the polymer chain are often too tightly bound together to be easily separated because they are chemically bonded to each other.
Get The Best Polyethylene Foam For All Your Needs
You can always count on us at Alcot Plastics for all your foam plastic needs. Contact us today to learn more about everything that we can do for you.
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