High Density Polyethylene (HDPE)

High Density Polyethylene is a petroleum-based thermoplastic that is wear resistant and can have very high elongation before breaking. It is generally chemically resistant and can withstand rather high temperatures (120° Celsius for short periods).

Common Uses:

• Beverage Industry: Caps and closures, milk jugs, refillable bottles.
• Consumer Products: Laundry detergent bottles, folding tables, folding chairs, modern hula hoops.
• Sporting industry: Portable basketball system bases, snowboard rails, and boxes.
• Commercial uses: Fuel tanks for vehicles, plastic lumber, storage sheds, containment of certain chemicals, corrosion protection for steel pipelines, ballistic plates.
• Pyrotechnics Trade: HDPE mortars are preferred to steel because they are more durable and much safer.

Physical Properties:

• Specific Gravity - .96g/cm
• Tensile Strength - 3980 psi
• Flexural Strength - 156000
• Impact Strength - 4.76 ft.-lb/in

General Properties:

• Excellent processibilty
• Good dimensional stability
• Good creep
• Some grades FDA approved
• Good impact resistance
• Good toughness
• Food contact acceptable
• Excellent mechanical properties
• Excellent odor performance

Processing:

• Injection Molding
• Extrusion