What is HDPE?
HDPE, the plastic without risk to health
Our systems are made of HDPE, a material authorized to come into contact with water without presenting any risk to health.
High density polyethylene (HDPE) is a thermoplastic polymer derived from petroleum.
Unlike low-density polyethylene (LDPE), the molecular chains of HDPE have few ramifications: the result is greater resistance to attraction and greater intermolecular strength than the less dense polyethylene variety, which translates into greater material-specific strength.
HDPE finds many applications whether applied alone or in fusion with other materials.
Its main characteristics are:
- Excellent thermal and chemical resistance.
- Very good resistance to impact.
- It is solid, colorless, translucent, almost opaque.
- Very good processability, that is, it can be processed by the forming methods used for thermoplastics, such as injection and extrusion.
- It is flexible, even at low temperatures.
- It is tough.
- It is more rigid than low density polyethylene.
- It is difficult to print, paint or glue onto.
- It is very light.
- Its density is around 0.940 - 0.970 g/cm3.
- It is not attacked by acids, it is considered a maximum resistance of 60°C of work for the liquids, because at higher temperature the useful life is reduced. Other thermoplastics offer better resistance at higher temperatures.
- Mechanical and thermal recycling is much better.