(03) 5442 8728
free no obligation quotesPolyethylene
Acronym
PE, HD-PE, LD-PE, HMW-PE
Basic Properties
Flexible, lightweight, translucent; waxy to the touch. Softens at low heat, breaks down in sunlight unless pigmented, and is permeable to some liquids & gases. Has many variations.
Common Uses
Polyethylene is available in a large variety of different size sheets for general use in water and chemical storage as well as plant engineering.
Being physically inert it is suitable for food preparation and contact areas.
A very popular plastic with many applications, most types of PE is weldable and 'fabricator friendly', easily machined and is light weight. Most rota molded products use a type of PE powder.
Being a good insulator of electricity it is commonly used for electrical covers. Unlike many other plastics, Polyethylene does not absorb water therefore is suitable for outdoor use when pigmented. When used in fuel cells or tanks it will readily absorb hydrocarbons, making it difficult for repairs to be made.
Its chemical resistance is generally good, resisting attack from acids & alkali's such as Sulphuric Acid and Caustics. Its maximum operating temperature range is low (HD-PE @ 80 Degrees Celsius) when compared to other plastics.
There are many variations of PE including HMWPE ( High Molecular Weight Polyethylene) that have higher constant operating temperatures. Also known as Polystone 500, HMWPE has much better mechanical properties than HD-PE (High Density) with much more rigidity and better creep resistance, making it suitable for machine parts, gears, rollers and the like. UHMWPE or Ultra High Molecular Weight PE is specifically formulated for enhanced resistance to wear, being better than Carbon Steel for sliding abrasion applications.
Almost impervious to environmental stress cracking, UHMWPE is ideally suited to applications in mechanical transmission, chain guides, wear strips and flow promotion.
Properties
| High Density Polyethylene Physical Properties | |
|---|---|
| Specific Gravity Units g/cm3 | 0.95 |
| Minimum / Maximum Service temperature in Air Unit °C | -50 to +80 |
| Tensile Strength Yield MPA | >20 |
| Tensile Strength Break MPA | >40 |
| Impact Resistance DIN 53505 Notched Impact Strength Units MJ/mm2 | No Break |
| Co-efficient of Thermal Expansion Units mm/(mmxK) x 10-6 | 180 |
| Dielectric Strength DIN 53481 Units KV/mm (measured on a 0.2mm thick sheet) | 75 |
| Surface Resistivity Units Ohms | >1x1015 |
| Relative Abrasion loss by Sand Slurry Polystone 7000 = 90 | 335 |
| FDA Approved | Yes |
Available Products
PE Sheet
Thickness: 1.5 - 160mm
Sizes: From 600 x 600mm / up to 1500 x 3000mm
PE Rod
Diameter: 20 - 250mm
PE Machined parts
