High Density Polyethylene (HDPE)
High Density Polyethylene (HDPE)

High Density Polyethylene (HDPE)

from $2.70

High-density polyethylene (HDPE) is a versatile thermoplastic that is exceptionally rigid, and impact-resistant with a low coefficient of friction. HDPE offers fantastic strength, easy recyclability, and affordability making HDPE a preferred material for many manufacturers.

HDPE is also corrosion resistant, will not retain bacteria, and will not rot or splinter over time. These characteristics, alongside its exceptional weather resistance, make HDPE a great choice in applications surrounding or involving water, chemicals, solvents, and many other fluids.

While HDPE possesses a great strength-to-density ratio, it is easily meltable to be molded and is easily cut, machined, fabricated, welded, or mechanically fastened using everyday tools.

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High-density polyethylene (HDPE) is a versatile thermoplastic that is exceptionally rigid, and impact-resistant with a low coefficient of friction. HDPE offers fantastic strength, easy recyclability, and affordability making HDPE a preferred material for many manufacturers.

HDPE is also corrosion resistant, will not retain bacteria, and will not rot or splinter over time. These characteristics, alongside its exceptional weather resistance, make HDPE a great choice in applications surrounding or involving water, chemicals, solvents, and many other fluids.

While HDPE possesses a great strength-to-density ratio, it is easily meltable to be molded and is easily cut, machined, fabricated, welded, or mechanically fastened using everyday tools.

Common Applications

HDPE is suited for a wide range of applications and is often used to replace old and heavier machine parts to reduce contamination and machine downtime caused when parts fail. This process can be seen across numerous industries including material handling, food processing, automotive, marine and many more.

Other applications HDPE is well suited for include:

  • Bottling lines

  • Conveyor systems

  • Chute linings

  • Chemical, fuel, and water tanks

  • Fabricated Parts

  • Food Processing

  • Kick Plates

  • Medical

HDPE Technical Data

Property Test Method Typical Values
English Units Metric Units
Physical Properties
Density D1505 59.6 lbs/ft³ 0.955 g/cc
Melt Index, Condition 190 0 C / 2.16 kg D1238 - 0.25 g/10 min
Polyethylene Classification D4976 Group 2, Class 3, Group 2, Class 3,
Mechanical Properties
Tensile Strength @ Yield D638 4000 psi 27.6 MPa
Ultimate Elongation D638 > 600% > 600%
Tensile Impact Strength D1822 70 ft-­lbf/in² 147 KJ/m²
Notched Izod Impact Strength D256 2.99 ft-­lbf/in 159 J/m
Compressive Stress @ Yield D695 1,500 psi 10.3 MPa
ESCR, Condition B (10% Igepal),F₅₀ D1693 45 hours 45 hours
ESCR, Condition B (100% Igepal),F₅₀ D1693 35 hours 35 hours
Durometer Hardness D2240 64 Shore D 64 Shore D
Flexural Modulus D790 200,000 psi 1379 MPa
Coefficient of Friction, Static D1894 0.31 0.31
Coefficient of Friction, Kinetic D1894 0.22 0.22
Thermal Properties
Coefficient of Linear Thermal Expansion E831 7 X 10‾⁵ in/in/°F 1.26 X 10‾⁴ cm/cm/°C
Decomposition Temperature Union Carbide ~650 °F ~345 °C
Vicat Softening Temperature D1525 ~257 °F ~125 °C
Heat Deflection Temperature @66 psi D648 ~171 °F ~77 °C
Brittleness Temperature D746 < -120 °F < -84 °C
Glass Transition Temperature Union Carbide -193 °F -125 °C
Continuous Use Temperature - ­-100 °F to 180 °F ­73 °C to 82 °C
Thermal Conductivity Private Test 2.5 Btu-­in/h-­ft² ­ °F 0.35 W/m­ °K
Burn Rate D635 1 in/min 25.4 mm/min
Ignition Temperature, Flash Conditions D1929 645 °F 341 °C
Ignition Temperature, Self Ignition Conditions D1929 660 °F 349 °C
Flame Spread E84 Tunnel Test 98 98
Smoke Developed E84 Tunnel Test 350 350
Fire Rating Underwriters Labs UL94HB UL94HB
Electrical Properties
Dielectric Strength D149 510 V/mil 20.1 KV/mm
Dielectric Constant D150 2.35 2.35
Volume Resistivity D257 > 2.3 X 10¹⁵ ohm/­in > 6 X 10¹⁵ ohm/­cm

*The nominal properties reported herein are typical of the product but do not reflect normal testing variance and therefore should not be used for specification purposes.

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