The world of plastics is quite large to understand. You have HDPE, LDPE, and a lot of other polymers as well. Being a consumer, analysing the constituent materials of different products in our daily life is crucial. Especially, when it comes to water tanks and utensils which are used to store water & food. We often end up confused and doubtful about which product we must buy!

One such popular product is HDPE. Mostly used in water tanks, 3D filaments and food containers, HDPE holds a good place in versatility. Now, have you been wondering what’s so special about it? Well, here’s a small guide about HDPE, the most useful plastic among synthetic materials for practical uses!

What is HDPE?

In simple terms of expansion, HDPE is High-Density Polyethene. It is a thermo-polymer; formed by the joining of many units of carbon-chemical, ethane. Just like any other chemical compound, HDPE also features a lot of properties. And, these properties make it apt for various purposes.

HDPE, as mentioned above, is a thermo-polymer. So, it can highly resist temperature variations. Such a nature is impressive while making universal products that suit all regions. Hence, the wide range of using HDPE includes storage tanks, water pipes, plastic surgery, cutting boards in the kitchen, marine construction works, etc.

Properties of High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE)

Let’s explore the different characteristics of HDPE that makes it excellent material among the different plastics around us.

Higher Density

Just as the name suggests, HDPE has a higher density compared to other plastics and polymers. A high-density material means you get 2 favourable conditions for its practical uses.

Firstly, HDPE has a lower weight. This enables easy manufacture of water tanks & pipes using HDPE at lesser costs. Moreover, we obtain comparatively light-weighted products that are easy to handle. Secondly, it has a huge strength. For water tanks & huge containers, it’s necessary to have such strong building materials. Only then, it can safely carry huge quantities of water without the worry of breakage.

Durable & tensile

Another great feature of having high-strength nature is improved malleability and durability. HDPE can effectively withstand pressure to a great extent. It also remains rigid up to very high temperatures too.

But, it’s certainly mouldable! Even though it resists a large spectrum of temperature variations, beyond a particular point, it melts. Often, this becomes handy to efficiently mould HDPE into the desired shape & size. Its highly flexible characteristic prevents the need for any additional fittings that are likely to cause leakages or cracks. Besides, this makes HDPE extremely recyclable too. This is a remarkable quality for plastics. Hence, HDPE is inherently long-lasting as well as particularly tensile.

Resists corrosion

A big concern when it comes to pipes & tanks is the problem of corrosion. It’s extremely harmful & inconvenient when it comes to choosing such products for long-term usage. But, HDPE helpfully addresses the severity of this issue. The strong & compact composition of HDPE makes it an ideal building block for underground pipes, outdoor storage units and a lot more. The corrosion resistance offered by HDPE is much more compared to LDPE as it doesn’t absorb moisture. Sometimes, it’s also used as an anti-corrosive layer for carbon or steel rods.

Safe for Food & Water storage

HDPE tanks, boards & pipes usually have gentle & smooth surfaces. Hence, they are safe to handle. But, this doesn’t give any chance of compromise on the secure nature of HDPE. It’s absolutely reliable as a top-notch food-grade plastic. Moreover, HDPE has been widely approved by FSSAI, USFDA and the European Union. And, this definitely makes this “good” plastic acclaimed for storing food & water, without contaminating them.

Resists chemical leaching

Another peculiar feature of HDPE is its chemical resistance. There are only negligible effects of weather variations, other chemicals like acids, bases in air or soil on HDPE. Especially, for marine-grade products involving HDPE, there is a strict barrier to the deteriorating effects of saltwater. Well tested and proved, this plastic is often preferred in day-to-day activities as well. Creating a strong curb on leakages too, HDPE can undeniably be the best raw material for all chemical containers such as shampoo bottles, water tanks and detergent units.

Non-reactive under sunlight

HDPE proves important in not just preventing chemical leaching, but also in its exposure to sunlight. It does not decompose in sunlight or even UV radiations. There are trace amounts of carbon black in HDPE, making it resistant even for a long period of being open in sunlight. Due to its non-reactive nature to any sort of chemical reactions and even, sunlight for the concern, HDPE matches all criteria for being a good storage material.

Considering all these factors, HDPE fits the label of a perfect raw material for the manufacture of tanks, boards, pipes and containers. It’s a good material for a sustainable scale of production too. HDPE has huge strength and resistance properties. And, that’s a considerable reason for large-scale companies like Selzer Polymers to focus on producing HDPE water tanks. So, be stress-free about the confusions about HDPE and rejoice in utilising an ideal material!