# A Review of Degradation and Life Prediction of Polyethylene
## 3 General Service Life of Polyethylene  
Due to their strength, durability, and low cost when compared to other materials, polyethylene-based products are frequently seen in daily life. This low cost significantly lowers manufacturing costs and promotes the sustainable growth of the global economy.  
Polyethylene materials are commonly used for the packaging of food products. The materials used to create food packaging are produced in a way that does not detract from the food's flavor, appearance, or nutritional value. In order to ensure that the shelf life of the packaging material is longer than the shelf life of the food itself, it is crucial to safeguard the food's quality. This is because the substances in the packaging material may spread into the food and harm it.  
High-density polyethylene, which is frequently used for cable sheathing and has an initial design life of roughly 50 years, typically does not last as long as predicted outdoors due to numerous uncontrollable circumstances. Due to prolonged exposure to UV light, the cable sheath typically cracks after fewer than 10 years of operation in terms of ultraviolet light alone [70].  
Natural gas and drinking water are both transported via polyethylene pipes because of their flexibility, light weight, ease of connecting between pipes, and comparatively low installation costs [71]. The polyethylene material will deteriorate and age with continued use, which will affect the pipe's functionality. Premature pipe damage can result in major safety issues, such as gas leaks, which can seriously endanger people's lives and property. Premature pipe damage also causes inconveniences in our daily lives. The DuPont Company has been employing polyethylene pipes to transmit natural gas on a massive scale for about 57 years [72], but the lifespan of the pipeline cannot be ignored due to the rising safety issues.  
Notable medical uses for polyethylene include complete hip replacements. One of the best therapies for advanced femoral head necrosis is total hip replacement, which typically has a lifespan of at least ten years [20]. Traditional polyethylene has been replaced with highly cross-linked polyethylene since it is extremely prone to wear and tear during use [73].  
Materials made of polyethylene are frequently employed in horticulture and agriculture. Films are the primary form of application in agriculture [65], and they are typically used as much to cover crops [74]. By more effectively blocking all types of weather that are not favorable for crop growth, such as violent storms, polyethylene much can reduce the growth of weeds, retain the moisture and nutrients needed by crops [66], and provide a desirable growing environment for crops. In order to prevent soil contamination, polyethylene much is recycled after use and normally lasts a few months to a year outdoors [75]. If polyethylene film breaks down while in use, the ensuing degradation chemicals may be environmentally hazardous. They may also seep into rivers and contaminate the water [76]. To prevent unwanted environmental pollution, it is crucial to recycle polyethylene film within a set time range.  
Polyethylene has many other applications that we will not discuss here, but in summary, it is critical to precisely estimate the material's performance to precisely predict the material's life during its service life.