Linear Low Density Polyethylene (LLDPE) and its uses?
Linear Low Density Polyethylene (LLDPE), is a substantially linear polymer (polyethylene), with significant numbers of short branches, commonly made by copolymerization of ethylene with longer-chain olefins. It is a very flexible, natural milky color, translucent with high impact strength plastic sheeting films. Excellent for mild and strong buffers, good chemical resistance, good electrical properties and meets food handling guidelines. LLDPE is a blended form of LDPE to make the film much more flexible, tensile and strong. It is more pliable and softer. LLDPE is used for pond liners or blended into other films to give them more flexibility and extra strength.
LLDPE is used for films that need a tremendous amount of strength to absorb impacts while not tearing or puncturing. The most common thickness range is from 0.5 mil to 40 mil in flexible plastic sheeting. Excellent for mild and strong buffers, good chemical resistance. Good water vapor and alcohol barrier properties. Poor gas barrier, sterilizable with gamma radiation. Good stress crack and impact resistance.
USES OF LLDPE
Worldwide, approximately 80% is mixed with LDPE and HDPE for improved mechanical and thermal properties. LLDPE is also used in manufacturing bags and sacks due to the growing demand for rigid posture and excellent finish in final products. It is also increasingly used for other applications such as injection molding, a plastic component manufacturing process. This process is used to produce bottle caps, automotive dashboards, pocket combs, and wire spools.
According to Market Study Report, LLC, Asia Pacific accounted for over 40% of the market revenue in 2024. As reported in ‘IT Research Brief’, “rapid industrialization in the region due to flourishing automobiles, textiles, oil & natural gas, electronics, and manufacturing industries in emerging economies is giving a boost to construction spending and will propel linear low-density polyethylene market. Organized retailing and rapidly expanding e-commerce in India, Thailand, and Malaysia are strengthening the packaging sector which in turn will increase consumption of the product.” Also the use of LLDPE in manufacturing bags and sacks due to growing demand for rigid posture and excellent finish in final products. It is also increasingly used for other applications such as injection molding, a plastic component manufacturing process.
VARIATIONS OF LLDPE
There are several variations of linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE), from Octene C8, Hexene C6 and Butene C4, of varying densities: from high (up to 0.941 g/cm3) to very low (0.905 g/cm3).
ADVANTAGES OF LLDPE
LLDPE is versatile and economic, due to its lower sealing temperature combined with good mechanical properties big savings in high-performance structures.
APPLICATIONS OF LLDPE
Blown film – General-purpose packaging, heavy-duty bags, agricultural film, diaper backings, stretch film, shrink film Extrusion coating, and laminating – Milk carton stocks, polymeric film, box liners Blow molding – Box liners, etc. Injection molding – Houseware, artificial flowers. Worldwide, approximately 80% is mixed with LDPE and HDPE for improved mechanical and thermal properties. It is used for packaging food and other products in film wrapping, as well as in extrusion coating applications, mainly for paper and cardboard packaging.
Another major application driving a linear low-density polyethylene market is roto-molding, which was worth over USD 4.4 billion in 2015 and is anticipated to generate a revenue of more than USD 6.9 billion by 2024. Owing to the economic benefits of Rotomolding over other molding techniques such as blow molding and its escalating usage across the end-use sectors such as automotive, construction, packaging, water treatment, and agriculture will push the application growth.
GROWTH PROSPECT OF LLDPE
The global packaging industry is set to touch the trillion-dollar benchmark in terms of revenue by 2024, which is anticipated to have a linear influence on LLDPE market in the years ahead. According to Global Market Insights Inc., “Linear low-density polyethylene market held a revenue of USD 37 billion in 2015, and is projected to exceed USD 60 billion by 2024 with a lucrative annual growth rate of 6% over the period of 2016-2024.”
According to a study, Rotomolded LLDPE will record over USD 6.9 billion market revenue in 2024. This technology is being adopted extensively due to its benefits of being affordable and simpler than blow molding or injection molding. It is used in packaging, water treatment, automotive, agriculture, furniture, and construction industries.
