ENGINEERING MATERIAL

HDPE Plastic

A tough, low-cost, and incredibly versatile plastic. High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) is a top choice for applications requiring high impact strength, moisture resistance, and chemical resistance.

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A bottle preform, representing the blow molding of HDPE for containers

Durable, Lightweight, and Chemically Inert

HDPE is a semi-crystalline thermoplastic from the polyethylene family. It is one of the most widely used plastics in the world, famous for its use in milk jugs, cutting boards, and piping. Its linear molecular structure gives it a higher density and greater strength than other forms of polyethylene.

Exceptional Impact Strength

HDPE is extremely tough and can withstand significant impacts, even at very low temperatures, without fracturing. This makes it ideal for industrial containers and protective equipment.

Superior Chemical Resistance

It is highly resistant to a wide range of chemicals, acids, bases, and solvents. It also has very low moisture absorption, making it perfect for fluid handling applications.

Low Coefficient of Friction

HDPE has a waxy, low-friction surface, making it suitable for low-load wear strips, chain guides, and other sliding applications where it can operate without lubrication.

Fabricating with HDPE

While HDPE is most famous for being blow molded (for bottles) and injection molded (for containers), it is also an excellent material for subtractive manufacturing.

CNC Machining: We CNC machine HDPE from stock sheets and rods to create durable prototypes, industrial machine parts, cutting boards, and wear components. It machines very easily, similar to Delrin, allowing for fast and cost-effective production.
Sheet Fabrication & Welding: HDPE sheets can be cut, bent, and welded using specialized plastic welding techniques to create large, custom-fabricated items like chemical tanks, chutes, and liners.

Durable plastic shells for a toy, an application where HDPE's toughness is beneficial

HDPE Plastic FAQ

What is the difference between HDPE and LDPE?

LDPE (Low-Density Polyethylene) has a more branched molecular structure, which makes it much more flexible, softer, and less strong than HDPE. LDPE is used for things like plastic bags and squeeze bottles, while HDPE is used for more rigid applications like milk jugs and pipes.

Is it difficult to glue or bond HDPE?

Yes, extremely. Like PP and POM, HDPE has a very low surface energy and is chemically inert, making it almost impossible to bond with common adhesives. It requires specialized industrial adhesives and often surface treatments like flame or plasma etching to achieve a bond.

Is HDPE UV resistant?

Natural, unpigmented HDPE is not UV resistant. However, black grades of HDPE with carbon black added as a UV inhibitor are extremely resistant to sunlight and are widely used for outdoor applications like piping and marine construction (e.g., StarBoard® brand HDPE).