LLDPE (linear low-density polyethylene) is a polymer (polyethylene) with many short branches usually generated by copolymerizing ethylene with longer-chain olefins. The absence of long-chain branching distinguishes linear low-density polyethylene from ordinary low-density polyethylene (LDPE).
The linearity of LLDPE is due to the differences in LLDPE and LDPE manufacturing processes. LLDPE is made by copolymerizing ethylene with higher alpha-olefins like butene, hexene, or octene at lower temperatures and pressures. The copolymerization technique produces an LLDPE polymer with a narrower molecular weight dispersion than ordinary LDPE and notably altered rheological properties when combined with the linear structure.