New equilibrium melting point data, for polyethylene containing chain defects, are tested in the light of random copolymer predictions. A simplified expression for the melting point depression of random copolymers containing small amounts of non-crystallizable units is derived. Non-equilibrium melting data for rapidly quenched polyethylene samples are also reported. The fusion enthalpy AH~ and the surface free energy oe for crystals containing defects are evaluated using crystallinity, equilibrium meltingtemperatures and X-ray long period data. It is shown that increasing defect penetration within crystals induces a decrease of AH~ with X in accordance with theoretical predictions. Finally oe is, similarly, shown to decrease with increasing number of chain defects attached to the crystal surface.