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HDPE (High-Density Polyethylene)

High-density polyethylene. Low friction, chemical resistance, lightweight. For tanks, cutting boards, bearings and outdoor applications.

Engineering Plastics Polyolefin ISOPE-HD / HDPE (ISO 1872-1) ENEN ISO 1872-1 ASTMD3350 / D4976 HDPE DINDIN 16742 / EN ISO 1872 +18
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Description

HDPE (High-Density Polyethylene) per ISO 1872-1 is a semi-crystalline polyolefin with density 0.941-0.965 g/cm3. It is the most widely produced plastic in the world by volume. Outstanding chemical resistance, low cost, excellent impact resistance even at -40 C, low coefficient of friction and easy processability. Used for tanks, containers, pipes, cutting boards, bearings and outdoor structural applications.

Key Properties β€” Standard HDPE (extruded/moulded)
Rm (Tensile Strength)
26 – 38
MPa
Re / Rp0.2 (Yield)
20 – 30
MPa
Aβ‚… (Elongation)
β‰₯ 300.0
%
E (Young's Modulus)
1
GPa
Density
0.96
g/cmΒ³
Main Designations (22)
Standard BodyDesignationCountry / RegionNote
ISO PE-HD / HDPE (ISO 1872-1) International
EN EN ISO 1872-1 European Union
ASTM D3350 / D4976 HDPE USA
DIN DIN 16742 / EN ISO 1872 Germany
Trade Names Lupolen HD (BASF) / Vestolen (Evonik) / Paxon (ExxonMobil) / Hostalen (LyondellBasell) Global
Pipe Grade PE100 (ISO 4437) β€” pressure pipe International Standard gas/water distribution pipe
Pipe Grade PE80 (ISO 4437) β€” pressure pipe (older) International
UL 94 HB (standard grade) USA
JIS PE-HD (JIS K 6921-2) Japan
GOST Polietilen VD (PE-HD) Russia / CIS
FDA 21 CFR 177.1520 (food contact) USA FDA approved β€” standard for food/drinking water contact
JUS PL-PE-HD Yugoslavia / Serbia High-density polyethylene; JUS G.S2.030
RoHS Compliant EU
Supply Forms Pipe, rod, sheet, board, blow-moulded containers, injection-moulded parts Global
ISO PE 100 (ISO 4427 water pipes / ISO 1183 material) International
EN EN 12201 (HDPE water pipe) / EN 1519 (drain) EU
ASTM D3350 PE3408/PE4710/PE100 designation USA
Trade Names PE 100: Hostalen CRP100 (LyondellBasell) / Lupolen 5261Z (BASF) / HE3490-LS (Borealis) Global
UL 94 HB USA
NSF NSF/ANSI 61 (drinking water contact) USA
JUS PL-HDPE Yugoslavia Polietilen visoke gustoće; JUS G.S5.010
Pipe Standard SDR 11, SDR 17, SDR 26 wall thickness series per ISO 4427 International
Standards (22)
#Standard BodyDesignationCountry / RegionNote
1 ISO PE-HD / HDPE (ISO 1872-1) International β€”
2 EN EN ISO 1872-1 European Union β€”
3 ASTM D3350 / D4976 HDPE USA β€”
4 DIN DIN 16742 / EN ISO 1872 Germany β€”
5 Trade Names Lupolen HD (BASF) / Vestolen (Evonik) / Paxon (ExxonMobil) / Hostalen (LyondellBasell) Global β€”
6 Pipe Grade PE100 (ISO 4437) β€” pressure pipe International Standard gas/water distribution pipe
7 Pipe Grade PE80 (ISO 4437) β€” pressure pipe (older) International β€”
8 UL 94 HB (standard grade) USA β€”
9 JIS PE-HD (JIS K 6921-2) Japan β€”
10 GOST Polietilen VD (PE-HD) Russia / CIS β€”
11 FDA 21 CFR 177.1520 (food contact) USA FDA approved β€” standard for food/drinking water contact
12 JUS PL-PE-HD Yugoslavia / Serbia High-density polyethylene; JUS G.S2.030
13 RoHS Compliant EU β€”
14 Supply Forms Pipe, rod, sheet, board, blow-moulded containers, injection-moulded parts Global β€”
15 ISO PE 100 (ISO 4427 water pipes / ISO 1183 material) International β€”
16 EN EN 12201 (HDPE water pipe) / EN 1519 (drain) EU β€”
17 ASTM D3350 PE3408/PE4710/PE100 designation USA β€”
18 Trade Names PE 100: Hostalen CRP100 (LyondellBasell) / Lupolen 5261Z (BASF) / HE3490-LS (Borealis) Global β€”
19 UL 94 HB USA β€”
20 NSF NSF/ANSI 61 (drinking water contact) USA β€”
21 JUS PL-HDPE Yugoslavia Polietilen visoke gustoće; JUS G.S5.010
22 Pipe Standard SDR 11, SDR 17, SDR 26 wall thickness series per ISO 4427 International β€”
All values in wt.%
C
Carbon (backbone)
~85.7000
H
Hydrogen
~14.3000
H2O
Water absorption (any condition)
≀ 0.0100
ElementSymbolMin %Max %Typical %
Carbon (backbone) C β€” β€” 85.7000
Hydrogen H β€” β€” 14.3000
Water absorption (any condition) H2O β€” 0.0100 β€”
Mechanical Properties
ConditionCode Rm min
MPa		Rm max
MPa		 Re min
MPa		Re max
MPa		 Aβ‚… min
%		 Z
%		 KV
J		 HB minHB max HRC minHRC max E
GPa
Standard HDPE (extruded/moulded) STD 26 38 20 30 300.0 β€” β€” β€” β€” β€” β€” 0.9
HDPE High Modulus HM 35 50 28 40 50.0 β€” β€” β€” β€” β€” β€” 1.2
Physical Properties
Density
0.960
g/cmΒ³
Melting Point
125–135
Β°C
Young's Modulus
0.9
GPa
Poisson's Ratio
0.420
β€”
Thermal Conductivity
0.5
W/mΒ·K
Thermal Expansion
130.00
Γ—10⁻⁢ /K
Specific Heat
1,900
J/kgΒ·K
Magnetic
No
 
Heat Treatment
No heat treatment required
Medium:N/A
Duration:N/A
Cooling:N/A
Hardness After:N/A
HDPE is thermoplastic β€” no heat treatment. Weld by hot gas, butt fusion or extrusion welding.
Pipe Fusion Welding
Temperature:210Β°C – 230Β°C
Medium:Heated plate / butt fusion
Duration:Per pipe diameter
Cooling:Controlled cool
Hardness After:Full fusion weld
Standard pipe joining method. PE100 pipes joined exclusively by fusion welding for pressure service.
Machinability
Machinability Rating
relative to AISI B1112 = 100%
500.0%
Excellent
Turning Speed (HSS)
700
m/min
Turning Speed (Carbide)
2,500
m/min
Feed Rate (Turning)
1.000
mm/rev
Drilling Speed (HSS)
600
m/min
Milling Speed (Carbide)
2,500
m/min
CoolantFlood water coolant acceptable; dry air also works
Chip FormationLong stringy chips; notoriously poor chip control
Tool MaterialHSS M2 or carbide K10; sharp cutting edge; wide chip breaker groove essential
Surface FinishRa 0.8-6.3 um
Excellent machinability for simple cuts. Chip control is the main challenge β€” use rake angle 15-20 deg. Cuts cleanly with sharp tools. Low cutting forces.
Applications
Tanks & Containers
Chemical storage tanks, water tanks, refuse bins, IBCs and drum liners.
Pipes
Gas and water distribution pipes (PE80, PE100), drainage pipe and cable ducting.
Food & Beverage
Cutting boards (FDA-grade), food-contact containers, bottle caps and food packaging.
Marine
Dock fendering, navigation buoys, boat hulls (HDPE panels) and offshore floats.
Bearings & Wear Parts
Low-load dry-running bearings, guide rails, wear liners and sliding pads.
Piping
Water supply mains (PE100 SDR11/SDR17), gas distribution pipes, sewer pipes and drainage.
Chemical Storage
Chemical storage tanks, chemical dosing containers and industrial waste water ponds.
Food
Cutting boards, food storage containers, milk crates and food processing equipment.
Marine
Boat fuel tanks, fish farming cages, floating pontoons and marine fenders.
Technical Notes
βœ…
vs UHMWPE
UHMWPE (Ultra-High Molecular Weight PE) has 10-100x higher molecular weight than HDPE, giving dramatically superior wear resistance, impact strength and creep resistance. Use UHMWPE for demanding wear applications; HDPE for tanks, pipes and general-purpose parts.
πŸ’§
Chemical Resistance
Excellent resistance to acids, bases, alcohols, most solvents and oils. NOT resistant to: aromatic and chlorinated hydrocarbons (swell), oxidising acids. Outstanding resistance to water and aqueous environments.
βœ…
Welding
HDPE is easily joined by hot gas welding (HA weld rod), butt fusion welding (for pipes) and extrusion welding. No adhesives work well. Mechanical fasteners with pull-through prevention required for sheet work.
βœ…
PE100 vs PE80
PE100: MRS 10 MPa, modern standard for pressure piping β€” allows thinner wall. PE80: MRS 8 MPa, older grade. Always specify PE100 for new pressure pipe projects.
πŸ’§
Chemical Resistance
Outstanding β€” resists almost all common acids, bases, salts and alcohols. NOT resistant to: aromatic solvents (toluene, xylene), concentrated HNO3, halogens. Suitable for 98% of common chemical plant applications.
βœ…
Heat Fusion
HDPE pipes must be joined by butt fusion or electrofusion β€” mechanical joints (threaded, flanged) are acceptable for low-pressure service only. Fusion joints are as strong as the pipe itself.