Polyethylenes offer excellent chemical resistance. good fatigue. wear and moisture resistance. Differences in the length of the polymer chain yields a wide range of properties. Polyethylenes are easy to distinguish from other plastics because they float in water.
Representing the largest portion of the polyethylene applications. HDPE offers excellent impact resistance. light weight. low moisture absorption. and high tensile strength. These physical properties in addition to its ability to be easily machined. thermoformed. and welded have led to the wide use of HDPE on food processing. packaging. and conveying equipment. HDPE is also non-toxic and non-staining and is often chosen because of its FDA approval and food contact suitability and its excellent machineability.
HDPE is actually a very popular engineering plastic and is sometimes confused with other similar materials. HDPE comes in several different grades. which delineate the purposes that the HDPE is best suited for. Normally available in two grades. 300 grade and 500 grade. the higher number denotes the density of the material and can improve on performance. The majority of HDPE is available in either black or white although 500 grade sheet is available in a range of colors. which can sometimes help with food preperation or process identification.
