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HDPE – LDPE

HDPE – LDPE

by | Mar 31, 2022 | FDA and NSF Approved Materials, Made In The USA

thick-white-plastic-sheet

Polyethylene (LDPE, HDPE)

Light-weight FDA grade, Natural and black are standard colors

HDPE and LDPE

High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) and Low Density  Polyethylene (LDPE) are both materials in the Polyolefin family of plastics, along with Polypropylene (PolyPro) and UHMW (Ultra High Molecular Weight).

Manufactured by a variety of manufacturers under several tradenames: Polyboard®, Polymar®, Hostalen®, Polystone®, Hitec® HDPE, Corrtec®, Sanalite®, UltraEthylux®, Polycarve®, and Densetec®.

For great abrasion resistance, very low density, and FDA/NSF compliance, Polyethylene products are an excellent choice.

20"-rod

Other Plastic Materials

Why use HDPE/LDPE for your application?

  • Light Weight
  • Stain, Odor, and Moisture Resistant
  • FDA & NSF Approval for Food Contact
  • Vacuum and Thermo-Formable Material
  • Very Durable and Abrasion Resistant
  • Self-lubricating and a low coefficient of friction
  • Very High Chemical Resistance
  • Low Specific Gravity (Floats in Water)
  • Can be Heat Welded or RF Welded
  • High Impact Strength and Energy Absorption
  • Exceptional Low Temperature – Brittle at -110° F
  • Does not chemically bond
  • HDPE/LDPE are ITAR compliant, and HDPE/LDPE are RoHS compliant

Main Differences: 

HDPE – Harder material, little to no flex, better tensile strength
LDPE – Softer, very flexible, lower tensile strength 

 

Applications – HDPE:

  • Cutting Board and Food Preparation Surfaces
  • FDA, USDA, NSF Compliant Machined Parts
  • Heat Formed and Vacuum Formed Parts
  • Dasher Board For Ice Rinks – Impact Parts
  • Welded Tanks, Hoppers, Silo Linings and Slide Chutes
  • Chemical and Structural Tanks and Covers
  • Food Processing Equipment, Valve, and Pump Components

Other applications include cement molds, body boards, transfer boards, death beds, mortician boards, cooler storage boards, spine board, tank liners, wear guides, and many, many more.HDPE is used in thousands of applications, from interiors of freezers, bed liners for trucks to personal protection gear.

HDPE is available in stock in natural (milky white) and black. Other colors are available with minimum runs.

Applications – LDPE:

  • Packaging Applications
  • Industrial bags, produce bags, garment bags
  • Blow Molded Bottles
  • Toys
  • Hot Melt Adhesives
  • Wire Insulation
  • Prosthetic appliances, Medical equipment, Semi-flexible tubing

Extruded Sheet:
.030 – 2.0″ in 48″ X 96″ Smooth Surfaces Natural Sheet in HDPE, 1″ max. for LDPE
Black available in many sizes of HDPE

Film:
.015″ – .060″ in 48″ wide Natural

Rod:
.250″ – 10″ diameter in Natural HDPE – 96″ lengths
From 12″ and up to 30″ diameter in 48″ lengths or 39″ lengths in HDPE

Black is available in many sizes of HDPE

Tube:
.250″ OD – 10″ OD in various wall thicknesses. Most available in HDPE and many in LDPE

Special Formulations:
Conductive, Static Dissipative, Custom sizes, Formulations, Profiles or Colors.

General PropertyASTM
Test		Typical Value HDPETypical Value LDPE
Specific GravityD792.941 – .965.91 – .925
Tensile Strength YieldD6383,800 – 5,5001,400 – 2,000
Izod Impact – NotchedD2562.0 – 3.5>16
Vicat Softening TempD1525257 degrees F219 degrees F
Hardness – RockwellD785D60 -70D42 – 50
Continuous Use Temp–-100 – 180 degrees F174 degrees F
Deflection Temp @ 66 psiD648171124
Co. Thermal ExpansionD6967X10-54.6 -5.5X10-5
Restaurant quality cutting boards, cut to your size

Playground HDPE is UV stabilized for outdoor applications that is available in a variety of colors.

Playground Board

Sunboard and King StarBoard® are UV stabilized HDPE materials for marine applications.

Sunboard HDPE

HDPE Data Sheet

LDPE Data Sheet

HDPE SDS

LDPE SDS

These properties are for evaluation purposes only. This information is not to be construed as a warranty, guarantee or assurance that you may achieve the same results. Materials made from different resin types, manufacturing techniques and manufacturers will react differently. The information should be used to compare against other materials only, and each user should make his own tests to determine suitability. No warranty as to this materials suitability are either expressed nor implied.

Other Plastic Materials

HDPE and UHMW Polyethylene Sheet – Cutting Boards

HDPE and UHMW Polyethylene Sheet – Cutting Boards

by | Mar 12, 2013 | Choosing A Plastic Material, Made In The USA, Material Comparison, Mentor Nuggets

FDA – NSF Approved Cutting Boards

HDPE and UHMW Polyethylene Sheets

Next time you are cutting vegetables on your cutting board, the material most likely to be used is Polyethylene. Because it is stain, moisture and odor resistant, Polyethylene is a perfect choice. Other cutting boards made out of wood are more susceptible to bacteria and odors because they lack the properties that Polyethylene sheets offer, such as its chemical resistance and FDA approval for food Colored HDPE Cutting Boards NSF approvedcontact. Polyethylene is a very durable and lightweight material that comes in many forms and is a great for a wide variety of applications.

NSF Approved Cutting Boards

The HDPE is available in .500″ thick in several FDA / NSF approved colors, and is great for use in kitchens where cross contamination is a problem. 

The Ultimate Cutting Board

Polyethylene has many names. The most common are HDPE, LDPE, and UHMW. The difference has to with the molecular weight and branching which is when a monomer or atom is replaced by a longer chain of polymers (a long repeating chain of atoms). High Density is commonly used for milk jugs and food containers. Low Density is commonly used for bottles and plastic bags. UHMW, which has higher molecular weight (2-6 million) allows for an even transfer over the length of material which makes it stronger and able to be used for bearing applications due to its great wear resistance. Commonly used in the food and dairy industry, UHMW is a great replacement for other materials and solution to many problems. All of these polymers are derived from the same family but all have certain properties that make them a little different. HDPE provides great chemical resistance, with high impact strength and great energy absorption. LDPE has most of the same properties as High Density but is not as dense at 9.15, opposed to HDPE which is 9.34. It also has a lower tensile strength and easier formability.

UHMW is a strong material that has great durability and low co-efficient making it an ideal for sliding applications. Polyethylene offers a wide range of material choices and properties HDPE can be recycled and made into usable plastic lumberand has great durability that can be suitable for a number of applications. From the food industry to automotive, the kitchen or the warehouse, whatever your Polyethylene needs are; High Density, Low Density or UHMW, Polyethylene is a great choice.

Typical Resin Properties:

General PropertyASTM TestTypical Value HDPETypical Value LDPETypical Value UHMW
Specific Gravity D792.941 – .965.91 – .925.93 – .94
Tensile Strength YieldD6383,800 – 5,5001,400 – 2,0006,800
Izod Impact – NotchedD2562.0 – 3.5>16No Break
Vicat Softening TempD1525257ºF219ºF260
Hardness – RockwellD785D60 -70D42 – 50R64
Continuous Use Temp–-100 – 180ºF174ºF180ºF
Deflection Temp @ 66 psiD648171  124174
Co. Thermal ExpansionD6967X10-54.6 -5.5X10-511.0X10-5

Please contact us for more information on FDA and NSF approved plastic materials. Email us here, or call us at: 866-832-9315

Topic: HDPE Cutting Boards – NSF Approved