Essay about Polyethylene

Polyethylene (PE), (C₂H₄)ₙ, is the most broadly utilised plastic in the world (Manufacturing, 2019).  It is used in the manufacturing of bottles, shopping bags and toys. The four classifications of polyethylene thermoplastic material dependent on thickness and property are low, medium, high (HDPE) and super high sub-atomic weight polyethylene (Manufacturing, 2019). Low-thickness polyethylene was first created in 1933 in England by Imperial Chemical Industries Ltd. (ICI) during investigations of the impacts of incredibly high pressing factors on the polymerization of polyethylene (Lotha, 2019). 

Poly(ethene) is made by a few techniques by expansion polymerization of ethene, which is delivered by the breaking of ethane and propane, naphtha and gas oil (Polyethylene, n.d). Ethylene (C2H4) is a vaporous hydrocarbon regularly created by the breaking of ethane. Ethylene particles are made out of two methylene units (CH2) connected together. This construction can be addressed by the equation CH2=CH and is affected by polymerization. The twofold bond can be broken and result in additional single bonds used to connection to a carbon in another ethylene atom. (Lotha, 2019)

Petroleum is used to manufacture polyethylene. Petroleum is a mixture of hydrocarbons and is also known as a crude oil. After over a million years of heat and pressure, these natural remaining parts (fossils) changed into carbon-rich substances we depend on as crude materials for fuel and a wide assortment of items (Petroleum, n.d). Most plastics use naphtha as their main raw material. Naphtha is further decomposed thermally and separated utilising the difference in the boiling point to form ethylene and propylene, which are the raw materials for plastics. (Polyplastics, n.d).

Advantages: An advantage of using petroleum in the manufacturing of polyethylene is that it is easily extracted. Various techniques are used to penetrate into stone layers and extract oil so that it can be refined later on. Even when petroleum is located underground or on the floor of the ocean, modern technology makes it easier to access the fuel resources (Gaille, 2017). This also makes the manufacturing of polyethylene cheaper compared to when plant oil was used (Plastic Production, 2015).

Disadvantages: Opposingly, petroleum also creates a major part of polyethylene, contributing to its additional ability to be harder to break down. Utilising oil creates harmful substances that add to natural contamination. This implies that the destruction of our ecosystems will be made quicker if petroleum is used our main source of energy (Miller, 2015).

Plastic microbeads used to make and are essential for the structure of thousands of skincare products such as toothpaste, shaving creams, shower gels and scrubs. This is due to their various characteristics for formulators, polyethylene particles are the most valued as they are accessible in enormous amounts and unscented which is important for skincare products, so it does not combine with any other scents used in the product. They are also stable and do not affect the pH level of the composition (CosmeticOBS, 2014). Polyethylene in these products is used as it works well with most ingredients, works with all skin types unless someone is allergic to it and moisturises and protects the skin from water loss (The Dermatology Review, 2020).

The progressing degradation of the natural environment taking place over the last few decades and resulting from the systematically growing production of synthetic polymer materials. Polymer material waste is considered one of the most strenuous wastes causing an enormous threat to the natural environment. For this reason, recycling of polymer materials is currently one of the most important waste management problems (Hersztek, 2019). The chemical bonds in plastic materials are not recognisable to bacteria in nature. These materials are known as "xenobiotic." There are no normally happening creatures that can separate them successfully. Today, there are different strategies to break down polyethylene plastics like heat and pressure (Barak, 2020).

On beach shores, microplastics are noticeable as small colourful plastic pieces in sand. In the seas, microplastic contamination is frequently devoured by marine creatures which can be very deadly for them. Single-use plastics are intended to be utilised only once and later disposed like straws. Microplastics have been found in marine creatures from tiny fish to whales and surprisingly, in drinking water (Microplastics, n.d). Plastic waste kills up to 1,000,000 seabirds per year. Similarly, as with ocean turtles, when seabirds ingest plastic, it occupies space in their stomachs, at times causing starvation. Numerous seabirds are discovered dead with their stomachs full of this waste. Researchers explain that 60% of all seabird species have eaten bits of plastic, a figure they foresee will ascend to 99% by 2050 (Reddy, 2018). 

An alternative to polyethylene in scrubs regardless of whether they be taken from plants or minerals, there are useful alternatives to polyethylene microbeads. Although, they may not offer similar or identical benefits as polyethylene, however they are better in terms of biodegradability. Some of these alternatives are silica, bamboo silica, fruit shells or kernels and rice (CosmeticOBS, 2014). As for alternatives for single-use plastic bags there are products like jute or hessian bags that are made of biodegradable vegetable fibres, paper bags and cotton bags that are able to be washed and reused. These are all great examples of ethical alternatives for day to day products that are made of polyethylene (City of Sydney - News, 2018).