Material · Engineering Plastics
HDPE
The budget chemical-duty plastic: food-safe, nearly unbreakable, and the cheapest stock in the shop.
Price index: $
Machinability
4/5
Corrosion resistance
4/5
Strength
26 MPa
Value for money
$
Material properties
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Tensile strength | 26 MPa |
| Yield strength | ~26 MPa |
| Hardness | Shore D64 |
| Density | 0.95 g/cm³ |
Choose it when
You need cheap, chemically inert, food-safe material and tolerances are relaxed — liners, gaskets, spacers and tank parts where HDPE costs a fraction of POM.
Look elsewhere when
Precision or stiffness matters: HDPE is soft, deflects under clamping (we fixture gently and accept wider tolerances) and creeps under sustained load — POM is the rigid alternative.
Typical applications
- Food-contact cutting boards and spacers
- Chemical tank fittings and liners
- Wear-resistant chute and guide liners
- Outdoor and marine deck hardware
Compared with similar grades
| Property | HDPE | ABS | Polycarbonate (PC) | Nylon PA6 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tensile strength | 26 MPa | 40 MPa | 66 MPa | 79 MPa (dry) |
| Yield strength | ~26 MPa | ~40 MPa | ~62 MPa | ~79 MPa (dry) |
| Hardness | Shore D64 | R105 (Rockwell) | R118 (Rockwell) | R119 (Rockwell, dry) |
| Density | 0.95 g/cm³ | 1.05 g/cm³ | 1.20 g/cm³ | 1.14 g/cm³ |
| Price index | $ | $ | $ | $ |
| Machinability | 4/5 | 4/5 | 3/5 | 3/5 |
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