High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) resin is the oldest and the largest produced plastic resin in the world. HDPE resin is used for blow molding and Injection molding applications. HDPE can be used in almost any product from trash cans and plastic bags to cutting boards and housewares.
HDPE is a polyethylene thermoplastic made from petroleum. It takes 1.75 kilograms of petroleum (in terms of energy and raw materials) to make one kilogram of HDPE. HDPE is commonly recycled, and has the number “2″ as its recycling symbol. In 2007, the global HDPE market reached a volume of more than 30 million tons.
Properties
The mass density of High-density Polyethylene can range from 0.93 to 0.97 g/cm³.Although the density of HDPE is only marginally higher than that of Low-density polyethylene, HDPE has little branching, giving it stronger intermolecular forces and tensile strength than LDPE. The difference in strength exceeds the difference in density, giving HDPE a higher specific strength. It is also harder and more opaque and can withstand somewhat higher temperatures (120 °C/ 248 °F for short periods, 110 °C /230 °F continuously). High-density polyethylene, unlike polypropylene, cannot withstand normally-required autoclaving conditions. The lack of branching is ensured by an appropriate choice of catalyst and reaction conditions. HDPE contains the chemical elements carbon and hydrogen.
Applications
HDPE is resistant to many different solvents and has a wide variety of applications, including:
Milk bottles and other hollow goods manufactured through blow molding are the most important application area for HDPE – More than 8 million tons, or nearly one third of worldwide production, is applied here.
The major producers in North America are Braskem, Chevron Phillips, Dow Chemical, ExxonMobil, Formosa, Ineos and Total Petrochemicals.
Recycled products is how the plastic industry is staying planet friendly. Lone Star Chemical offers a full line of recycled HDPE Resin for blow molding, sheet extrusion and injection molding grades. Lone Star Chemical purchase HDPE regrind and parts to be recycled.
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