HIGH DENSITY POLYETHYLENE (HDPE)
What is HDPE PlasticWhat does HDPE stand for?
HDPE is an acronym for High Density PolyEthylene and is a thermoplastic prepared from ethylene by a catalytic process. The global market for HDPE in 2007 is around 30 million tons.
What is HDPE’s plastic number?
The recycling number for HDPE is #2.
HDPE is a very commonly recycled type of plastic and is well accepted in most recycling centers.
What are HDPE’s properties?
High tensile strength (maximum stress a material can withstand)
Density above 0.95 – 0.97 g/cm3 (floats in water)
High heat resistant (max. temperature around 120 ?°C)
Excellent resistance to chemicals and solvents
High rigidity
Meets FDA’s standard for direct food contact
What is HDPE primarily used for?
More than 8 million tons of HDPE are used toward blow-molded containers such as milk jugs, juice containers, detergent bottles, motor oil bottles, trash bins, etc. That is nearly one third of HDPE’s annual production worldwide.
A large portion of recycled HDPE plastic is made into composite wood or plastic lumber.
Toys! One third of all toys are manufactured using HDPE. Example of a HDPE toy (click to view image).
Plastic bags with #2 label
What are some other products made from HDPE?
Outdoor furniture (such as Adirondack chairs)
Large drums (for storing oils and chemicals)
Storage sheds
Playground equipment
Paint buckets
Watering cans
Cutting boards
Lunch trays
Recycled plastic furniture
HDPE Bottles and containers
Folding tables and chairs
Pipes (water, natural gas, etca€|)
High density polyethylene mortars (for pyrotechnic)
