A Ziegler catalyst is used to ensure no branching in its high-density version, while the low density variety is created by free radical polymerization.
It was first synthesized by Hans von Pechmann in 1898, and the first practical process for synthesizing it was discovered by Eric Fawcett and Reginald Gibson at ICI Chemicals in 1933, who applied high pressures to a mixture of benzaldehyde and ethylene. A Ziegler catalyst is used to ensure no branching in its high-density version, while the low density variety is created by free radical polymerization. For ten points, what is this common polymer made of repeating CH2 units?
It was first synthesized by Hans von Pechmann in 1898, and the first practical process for synthesizing it was discovered by Eric Fawcett and Reginald Gibson at ICI Chemicals in 1933, who applied high pressures to a mixture of benzaldehyde and ethylene.
{polyethylene} or {polyethene} or just {PE}