Why can polymers be so stable? The answer is visualized in the rod forrest designed by Gisbert Baarmann, which shows the (partially) crystalline structure of polymers. If you walk through it, you quickly realise how densely packed the polymers have to be in order to be really stable. An example of ‘densely packed’ is crystalline polyethylene, which is used to make hard-shell suitcases, among other things.
In the peep-boxes, you can take a look at so-called imperfections. These can be branches or large side chains. As a result, the chains cannot order themselves well, they are arranged less tightly and the plastic becomes lighter and softer. In other words, the opposite of densely packed.