Contact Us
West Ujimqin Banner, Xilingol League, Inner Mongolia, China
© 2025 Alchemist Worldwide Ltd, All Right Reserved
Product Name: Polyethylene
Chemical Family: Polyolefin
Molecular Formula: (C₂H₄)n
CAS Number: 9002-88-4
Recommended Use: Manufacturing containers, films, packaging products, pipes, insulation, household goods
Manufacturer: Major chemical corporations and resin suppliers globally contribute to production and international distribution
Emergency Contact: Emergency phone numbers and regional contacts listed on specific manufacturer documentation
Classification: Not considered hazardous as a solid polymer. Molten polyethylene can cause severe thermal burns.
Hazards: Dust generation from grinding or processing may present explosion risk in confined spaces. Inhalation of fumes from heating, melting, or burning can result in respiratory discomfort or irritation.
Signal Word: None for solid form; “Warning” for hot or processed forms
Label Elements: Standard workplace labeling for thermoplastic processing. Use pictograms for burns and general irritation risk.
Emergency Overview: Dust or molten form presents risk, otherwise chemically inert under normal conditions.
Chemical Name: Polyethylene
Component: Homopolymer of ethylene
Percentage: Over 98% polyethylene by weight
Additives: May include trace stabilizers, antioxidants, slip agents, processing aids (usually less than 2%) varying between product grades
Trace Impurities: Residual catalysts or process residues possible in fractions per million; specifics vary by manufacturing process
Inhalation: Remove affected person to fresh air if fumes from overheating or combustion have been inhaled. Seek medical attention for respiratory symptoms.
Skin Contact: For contact with molten polyethylene, immerse affected area in cold running water immediately. Do not attempt to remove cooled polymer adhering to skin—seek medical help for severe burns.
Eye Contact: Rinse cautiously with water if particulates or powder enter eyes. If irritation persists, obtain medical advice.
Ingestion: No known serious effects from ingestion of small amounts. Rinse mouth and seek medical guidance if large amounts are swallowed or if symptoms appear.
Other Health Risks: Particles can cause mechanical irritation to eyes, skin, and respiratory tract.
Suitable Extinguishing Media: Dry chemical, carbon dioxide, foam, or water fog; large fires demand water fog or spray
Unsuitable Media: Avoid using straight water streams, as hot polyethylene floats and may spread fire
Specific Hazards: Combustion releases carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, small amounts of aldehydes, ketones, and organic acids
Protective Equipment: Full protective gear and self-contained breathing apparatus to handle smoke, decomposition gases, and potential oxygen deficiency
Firefighting Instructions: Move containers from fire area if it can be done without risk. Dike runoff from firefighting to prevent entry into waterways.
Personal Precautions: Wear gloves, goggles, and dust mask when collecting spilled pellets or powder. Avoid slipping hazards from spilled granules.
Environmental Precautions: Prevent product from entering drains and waterways. Collect spillage promptly to minimize wildlife hazards such as ingestion by birds or aquatic life.
Cleanup Methods: Sweep, vacuum, or shovel spill into suitable, labeled containers for recycling or disposal. Use non-sparking tools when handling dust.
Emergency Procedures: Evacuate spill area if high dust or heated vapors present. Ventilate area for safe air quality.
Handling Precautions: Avoid dust formation and accumulation during transport, feeding, and blending. Handle hot product with protective equipment and monitor for vapors in processing areas.
Safe Storage Conditions: Store in cool, dry, well-ventilated area away from heat, flame, or direct sunlight. Avoid storing with oxidizing agents or strong acids.
Special Notes: Polyethylene may build up static electricity. Use grounding and bonding in bulk transfer operations. Secure sacks, drums, or bulk containers to avert drops or spills.
Handling Incompatibility: Keep away from strong oxidizing chemicals. Avoid temperatures above recommended thermal process limits.
Engineering Controls: Provide mechanical ventilation or local exhaust at points of dust formation and where heat processing occurs. Monitor air quality where fumes might arise.
Personal Protective Equipment: Safety glasses or goggles for dust and handling; insulated gloves and sleeves for hot work; dust masks or respirators if airborne fibers or particulates exceed local regulations.
Occupational Exposure Limits: No OSHA PEL for polyethylene dust; control dust to below nuisance dust threshold—10 mg/m³ (inhalable), 3 mg/m³ (respirable)
Thermal Protection: Use heat-resistant gear for working with molten or just-extruded materials.
Form: Solid; typically translucent to opaque flakes, granules, pellets, or powder
Color: White, off-white, sometimes dyed for product application
Odor: Slight or odorless
Melting Point: 105°C to 135°C, varies by density and product
Boiling Point: Decomposes without boiling
Vapor Pressure: Negligible at ambient temperature
Solubility: Insoluble in water, soluble in hot aromatic and aliphatic hydrocarbons
Density: 0.91–0.97 g/cm³ depending on grade
Flash Point: Over 300°C
Auto-ignition Temperature: Above 340°C
Decomposition Temperature: Greater than 300°C
Flammability: Burns if exposed to flame; supports combustion
Viscosity: Not applicable as a solid
Chemical Stability: Stable under recommended storage and handling conditions. Negligible reactivity under normal industrial processing.
Hazardous Reactions: Can react at high temperatures with strong oxidizing agents; may degrade under direct sunlight producing low-level fumes.
Decomposition Products: Burning or excessive heating may create carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and minor quantities of hydrocarbons and organic acids.
Polymerization: Product will not undergo hazardous polymerization.
Acute Toxicity: Low toxicity by all routes of exposure under normal conditions. No evidence for systemic toxicity from ingestion, inhalation, or skin exposure to the solid polymer.
Chronic Effects: Long-term exposure to fumes or high concentrations of process dust can cause irritation to the respiratory system.
Skin Sensitization: No confirmed reports of allergic responses from skin contact to polyethylene in normal use.
Carcinogenicity: No components classified as carcinogenic by NTP, IARC, OSHA.
Mutagenicity: Testing indicates no genotoxic effects.
Other Health Effects: Vapors from thermal decomposition may cause headaches, dizziness, or nausea with prolonged exposure.
Ecotoxicity: Not acutely toxic to aquatic or soil organisms. Persistent in the environment; breaks down slowly in sunlight and oxygen.
Persistence and Degradability: Polyethylene resists biodegradation; fragmentation by UV light and mechanical forces leads to microplastic pollution.
Bioaccumulation Potential: Low tendency for bioaccumulation; product not soluble in water or lipids.
Mobility in Soil: Pellets or particles remain in soil, surface water, or marine environments for decades unless physically removed.
Other Adverse Effects: Risk to wildlife due to ingestion; may block digestive tracts in birds, fish, or mammals.
Waste Treatment Methods: Recycle wherever possible through closed-loop, mechanical recycling systems. Incinerate under controlled conditions per local regulations. Landfill only in conformity with site and jurisdiction guidelines.
Disposal Considerations: Do not discharge into drains, surface waters, or wildland. Minimize the release of pellets or powder into the environment during handling and disposal.
Special Precautions: Residues from totally empty packaging can be handled as non-hazardous solid waste. Synthetic polymer waste should be consigned to facilities equipped for plastics processing.
UN Number: Not regulated for transport as dangerous goods
Proper Shipping Name: Polyethylene, not hazardous
Hazard Class: Not applicable
Packing Group: Not applicable
Environmental Hazards: Not classified, but retain containers to prevent pollution. Prevent product spillage during bulk transport over land or water.
Special Precautions for User: Avoid crushing, puncturing, or spilling bulk containers.
US EPA TSCA: Listed on the Toxic Substances Control Act inventory
REACH / EU: Compliant with European Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals law; not classified as dangerous substance
OSHA Hazard Communication Standard: Solid polymer exempt from hazard labeling; processed forms require hazard assessment
Other Relevant Regulation: Can be subject to local and national restrictions on single-use plastics, packaging, and recycling. Meets most food-contact material certifications if properly formulated and manufactured.
Labeling Requirements: No specific label required for normal handling, though workplace safety data should be posted wherever thermal processing or large storage occurs.
West Ujimqin Banner, Xilingol League, Inner Mongolia, China
