Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE)
Polyethylene, the most type of common plastic, is thermoplastic polymer with variable crystalline structure and an extremely large range of applications depending on the type. As of 2017 over 100 million tons of PE resin is produced and accounts for 34% of the total plastics market. PE is commonly categorized into 3 major categories of LDPE, LLDPE, and HDPE.
Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE)
Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE) is a thermoplastic made from the monomer ethylene and is the first grade of polyethylene. LDPE was first manufactured in 1933 by a British company. LDPE is commonly used because it’s a flexible thermoplastic that offers stress resistance and pliability, along with strength and toughness through a wide range of temperatures.
LDPE Specifications
| Material | ||
| LDPE | ||
| Melt Temperature | 110 °C (230 °F) | |
| Typical Injection Molding Temperature | 21 – 66 °C (70 – 150 °F) | |
| Tensile Strength | 7 MPa (1000 PSI) | |
| Flexural Strength | 6 MPa (800 PSI) | |
| Specific Gravity | 0.92 | |
| Shrink Rate | 2.4 – 3.1 % (.024 – .031 in/in) | |
*At standard State