Polyethylene

1. What is the pressure range for the

polymerization process of low density
polyethylene?
a) 1500-3000 atm
b) 100-1000 atm
c) 50-100 atm
d) 25-50 atm

2. What range of temperature is generally

employed for low density polyethylene
formation on kinetic considerations?
a) 25-50 ᵒC
b) 170-250 ᵒC
c) 200-400 ᵒC
d) 50-150 ᵒC

3. What is the allowable quantity of oxygen at a

pressure of 2000 atm and temperature of 165 ᵒC
for the polymerization process, over which
explosion may occur?
a) 0.075%
b) 0.05%
c) 10%
d) 5%

4. Which of the following can be used as an

initiator for the formation of low density
polyethylene (LDPE)?
a) benzoyl peroxide
b) sulphuric acid
c) dithionite ion
d) nitrobenzene

5. What is the affect of high pressure on the

molecular weight of the polymer product
formed?
a) increases
b) decreases
c) no change
d) cannot be determined

6. What is the possible heat of polymerization

of ethylene?
a) 800-1000 cal/g
b) 164-180 cal/g
c) 200-400 cal/g
d) none of the mentioned

7. Which of the following oxide works as a

catalyst for the formation of high density
polyethylene by Philips process?
a) molybdenum oxide
b) chromium oxide
c) titanium oxide
d) calcium oxide

8. Which of the following are used as a

promoter in the Standard Oil process for
formation of HDPE?
a) sodium hydride
b) hydrogen halide
c) sulphuric acid
d) molybdenum oxide

9. Which of the following process employs

highest range of temperature for the formation
of HDPE?
a) ziegler process
b) phillips process
c) indiana process
d) none of the mentioned

10. What is the approximate density of the

polymer produced by the Ziegler process of
polymerization?
a) 0.945 g/cm3
b) 1.5 g/cm3
c) 0.5 g/cm3
d) 2.0 g/cm3

11. LDPE is more prone to oxidation than

HDPE. State true or false.
a) true
b) false

12. What does higher melt flow index (MFI)

indicates in polymer system and which type of
polyethylene belongs to higher MFI value
category?
a) lower molecular weight, LDPE
b) higher molecular weight, LDPE
c) lower molecular weight, HDPE
d) higher molecular weight, HDPE

13. Which of following kind of polyethylene has

the highest degree of chain-branching?
a) LDPE
b) HDPE
c) LLDPE
d) cannot be determined

14. Which of the following category in

properties can be considered as a limitation to
the application of polyethylene?
a) chemical inertness
b) toxicity
c) softening point
d) insulation properties

15. Which of the following is true case when the

stress cracking problem in polyethylene is less
critical?
a) high molecular weight and high density
b) low molecular weight and high density
c) high MFI and high density
d) low molecular weight and low density

16. Which of the following is true, when the

density of LDPE is increased?
a) crystallinity decreases
b) permeability to liquid and gas decreases
c) toughness increases
d) all of the mentioned

17. Which of the following atom, with its

presence in the LDPE chain, can give a rubbery
product?
a) Cl
b) S
c) N
d) O

18. LDPE has a superior degree of toughness,

stiffness, stress cracking resistance and
electrical properties than LLDPE. State true or
false.
a) true
b) false

19. What is the range of melting or softening

temperature of high density polyethylene?
a) 125-135 ᵒC
b) 110-117 ᵒC
c) 90-110 ᵒC
d) 118-120 ᵒC

20. The films made by copolymer of ethylene

and ethyl acrylate are of much better quality
than the films made by normal LDPE. State true
or false.
a) true
b) false

Answer
1. a (Explanation: The polymerization process of
ethylene by free radical polymerization takes place
under high pressure ranging 1500 to 3000 atm and
low temperatures).
2. b (Explanation: The temperature range for the
polymerization reaction is 170-250 ᵒC, on kinetic
considerations because on very low temperatures,
the radical polymerization goes far too slow for the
production of a polymer).
3. a (Explanation: The allowable oxygen at a
pressure of 2000 atm and temperature of 165 ᵒC is
0.075%, otherwise explosive reaction may occur
giving hydrogen, methane and carbon in main, if the
limit is crossed).

4. a (Explanation: The initiators than can be used for

formation of LDPE are peroxides , oxygen or azo-
compounds).

5. a (Explanation: The increase in the pressure

increases the local concentration of the gaseous
monomer in the vicinity of the transient chain
radicals and thereby, increases the chances of
obtaining higher molecular weight for the polymer
product).

6. a (Explanation: The heat of polymerization of

ethylene is 800-1000 cal/g which is generally higher
than other type of monomers).
7. b (Explanation: The Philips process uses
CrO3 (5%) supported on finely divided aluminium-
silica base as a catalyst , which is dispersed in a
hydrocarbon solvent like cyclohexane).

8. a (Explanation: The Standard Oil process uses the

dispersion of molybdenum oxide containing sodium
and calcium hydride as promoters in hydrocarbon
solvent, at suitable temperature).

9. c (Explanation: The Indiana process is operated at

a temperature range of 220-250ᵒC, whereas the
Zeigler process and the Phillips process employs a
temperature range of 70-100ᵒC and 130-150ᵒC,
respectively).

10. a (Explanation: Ziegler process for formation of

HDPE yields the polymers of density of about 0.945
g/cm3).

11. a (Explanation: LDPE is more prone to oxidation

than HDPE as it contains higher concentration of
tertiary hydrogen (at branch sites), given that it is
free from metallic impurities. Uncontrolled
oxidation leads to countable incorporation of
carbonyl and peroxy groups which can make the
polymer more prone to degradation due to
absorption of heat and light).

12. a (Explanation: The melt flow index (MFI) helps

to differentiate between different grades of polymer.
A higher value of melt flow index indicates lower
molecular weights, and LDPE falls in a MFI range of
(0.3-70), whereas HDPE has a relatively lower value
(0.02-2.5)).

13. a (Explanation: Due to high chain transfer in free

radical polymerization effected in high pressure,
LDPE has nearly 20-50 branches per 1000 linear
carbon atoms in chain molecules, while HDPE
contains only about 1-5 branches per 1000 carbon
atoms making itself nearly a linear polymer. LLDPE,
as the name suggest is a linear polymer).

14. c (Explanation: The low softening point or heat

distortion temperature of polyethylene is a limiting
factor for the application of polyethylene. The
contributing factors for its application are excellent
chemical inertness and electrical insulation
properties, and the non-toxic nature of
polyethylene).
15. a (Explanation: Polyethylenes generally show
low environment stress cracking resistance problem.
Thus, the stress cracking problem is less critical with
relatively high molecular weight or low MFI and
high density materials).

16. b (Explanation: The crystallinity increases with

the density increase of polymer i.e the amount of
short chain branching decreases, which on the other
hand decreases the toughness and permeability to
gas and liquid).

17. a (Explanation: The introduction of chlorine atom

in the chain to the extent of one chlorine atom for at
least 7 carbon atoms gives a useful rubbery product.
The rubbery products formed are among the best
chemical resistant rubbers).

18. b (Explanation: LLDPE, a copolymer by

definition and design, has a superior degree of
toughness, stiffness, stress cracking resistance and
electrical properties than LDPE. Even the
possibilities for LLDPE to take over 30-350% market
of LDPE have also increased).
19. a (Explanation: The melting temperature of
HDPE (125-135 C) is usually higher in comparison to
LDPE and LLDPE, due to the its short and less
branching and high density ranges).

20. a (Explanation: The films made from the

copolymer of ethylene and ethyl acrylate have a
great degree of tensile strength, stress cracking
resistance, clarity and flexibility at low temperatures
in comparison to the films produced by normal
LDPE).