Abstract
Polyethylene (PE) is the most widespread polymer and also the most studied by macromolecular scientists. In 1990, polyethylene world production was estimated at approximately 25 × 106 tonnes per year: 65% of this was lowdensity, made in high-pressure reactors, and 35% was high-density homopolymer and linear low-density polyethylene produced in low-pressure reactors.