Is PE made of polyethylene material

Polyethylene is indeed PE material. Plastic bags, beverage bottles, water pipes, and other plastic products that can be seen everywhere in daily life are mostly marked with the number 2 or 4 in the bottom triangular circular symbol, corresponding to high-density polyethylene and low-density polyethylene.
The identification system on plastic products consists of seven numbers, mainly to help consumers quickly identify material characteristics. Number 1 corresponds to a PET mineral water bottle, number 2 is a HDPE shampoo bottle, and number 5 is a PP microwave lunch box. The corresponding numbers for PE material are 2 and 4, representing high-density and low-density types respectively.
Most supermarket shopping bags use LDPE (low-density polyethylene) with a thickness of about 0.025 millimeters. This material is soft but has weak load-bearing capacity. The commonly used HDPE (high-density polyethylene) for express packaging has a thickness of 0.05 millimeters, with obvious patterns on the surface, and can carry heavy objects weighing more than 5 kilograms. The temperature resistance range of the two materials is different. LDPE begins to soften at 80 ℃, while HDPE can withstand high temperatures of 110 ℃.
There are three tricks to distinguish PE material: HDPE produces a rustling sound when rubbed, LDPE produces a soft and silent sound when flattened; In the combustion test, PE will continue to burn and drip, with a blue flame accompanied by a candle smell; After being placed in water, PE with a density lower than water will float, while materials such as PVC will sink.
From an environmental perspective, it is important to note that natural degradation of PE materials takes 200-400 years, and trace amounts of harmful substances are produced during the recycling process. It is recommended to choose HDPE containers with high transparency for storing food, and avoid LDPE products when storing hot water. Medical grade PE materials undergo gamma ray sterilization treatment, while ordinary PE products do not have antibacterial properties.
In industrial production, PE raw materials exist in the form of particles and are formed through processes such as blow molding and injection molding. Food grade PE must comply with the GB 968-201 standard, which specifies key indicators such as heavy metal migration and plasticizer content. PE pipes for construction shall comply with the GB/T 136.2-201 standard, requiring a compressive strength of not less than 0.6MPa.
Compared with PVC, PE material does not contain chlorine elements and does not release dioxins during combustion. Compared to PP material, PE has better low-temperature resistance and maintains toughness even at minus 50 ℃. But the oil resistance is poor, and contact with edible oil can cause the material to expand, and long-term use may result in the leakage of harmful substances.
When purchasing PE products, pay attention to whether the product has the QS logo, and for food contact products, check the food safety certification. PE products made from inferior recycled materials may have black spots or impurities on the surface, and repeated bending can easily result in white creases. Suggest saving the shopping receipt and promptly returning or exchanging it if any quality issues are found.