Polyethylene

Polyethylene (abbreviated PE) or polyethene (IUPAC name polyethene or poly(methylene)) is the most common plastic. The annual global production is around 80 million tonnes. Its primary use is in packaging (plastic bags, plastic films, geomembranes, containers including bottles, etc.). Many kinds of polyethylene are known, with most having the chemical formula (C₂H₄)_n. Thus, PE is usually a mixture of similar polymers of ethylene with various values of n.

History

Polyethylene was first synthesized by the German chemist Hans von Pechmann, who prepared it by accident in 1898 while investigating diazomethane. When his colleagues Eugen Bamberger and Friedrich Tschirner characterized the white, waxy substance that he had created, they recognized that it contained long -CH₂- chains and termed it polymethylene.

Polythene (album)

Polythene was the first full-length album by the Welsh rock band Feeder and was released 18 May 1997 on the Echo Label, and then re-issued on 28 October in the same year in an Enhanced CD version, featuring their UK top 40 breakthrough single "High" and its video. The original version of the album was deleted soon after and is relatively rare due to this reason.

After sizeable critical success, the album had minor commercial success charting at number 65 in the UK albums chart.

The album saw the group's early take on a more grunge-influenced sound, which was not seen on their other albums that followed. Many critics at the time called the band the UK's answer to the Smashing Pumpkins.

History

Prior to the release of Polythene, Feeder had already released several singles which had built up a cult following.

Reception

Although heavily received by many critics, the initial commercial response was slightly lukewarm with a chart entry position of number 65 in May 1997, this was not however due to the public's opinion, but a lack of radio play for any of their singles, none of which appeared in the UK's airplay top 100 until "High". Those who heard of the album, immediately warmed to it and from here built up a cult following, which won the band a main stage appearance at the Reading festival in August 1997. Their live shows in support of the album were well received by the press. Even though this is Feeder's lowest-charting album, it is however seen by many fans as one of their best albums, along with follow-up Yesterday Went Too Soon. It appeared at number 87 in an early 2005 Kerrang! magazine vote, ranking the top 100 British rock albums of all-time.