Six low and high-d. polyethylenes and 6 resp. polyethylene waxes were studied for rheol. properties. In particular, viscosity as a function of temp. and the activation energy of their viscous flow were detd. to explain the relationship of the properties with their mol. mass and its dispersity as well as structure of macromol. (degree of chain branching). The polymer viscosity and its viscous flow activation energy decreased while its melting flow index increased with decreasing mol. mass of the polymers.