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Home Polyethylene PE HDPE LDPE LLDPE Comparison  Share

Polyethylene (PE):
LDPE, LLDPE and HDPE Properties Comparison
The Polyethylene plastic family encompasses a variety of materials, named depending on their density and branching.

Explore the variation of properties between the 3 main class: Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE), Linear Low Density
Polyethylene (LLDPE) and High Density Polyethylene.

Polyethylene (PE) Key applications Typical Properties Suppliers Brands

Keeping information about the properties of a thermoplastic beforehand is always beneficial. This helps in selecting the right engineering thermoplastic for a
particular application. It also assists in evaluating if the end use requirement would be fulfilled or not.

The table below comprises of all relevant properties of LDPE, LLDPE and HDPE. From physical properties, dimensional stability, electrical performances to fire
and thermal properties, find out every possible attribute with its values here.
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 Property LDPE LLDPE HDPE

Dimensional Stability

Coefficient of Linear Thermal Expansion 10 - 20 x 10-5 /°C - 6 - 11 x 10-5 /°C

Shrinkage 2-4% 2 - 2.5 % 1.5 - 4 %

Water Absorption 24 hours 0.005 - 0.015 % 0.005 - 0.01 % 0.005 - 0.01 %

Electrical Performances

Arc Resistance 130 - 160 sec - 100 - 180 sec

Dielectric Constant 2.3 2.3 2.3

Dielectric Strength 16 - 28 kV/mm - 17 - 24 kV/mm

Dissipation Factor 3 - 4 x 10-4 - 3 - 20 x 10-4

Volume Resistivity 16 - 18 x 1015 Ohm.cm 16 - 18 x 1015 Ohm.cm 16 - 18 x 1015 Ohm.cm

Fire Performances

Fire Resistance (LOI) 17 - 18 % 17 - 18 % 17 - 18 %

Flammability UL94 HB HB HB

Mechanical Properties

Elongation at Break 200 - 600 % 300 - 900 % 500 - 700 %

Elongation at Yield 13 - 17.5 % 3 - 16 % 15 %

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Flexibility (Flexural Modulus) 0.245 - 0.335 GPa 0.28 - 0.735 GPa 0.75 - 1.575 GPa
Hardness Rockwell M 1 1 1

Hardness Shore D 40 - 50 55 - 56 60 - 70

Stiffness (Flexural Modulus) 0.245 - 0.335 GPa 0.28 - 0.735 GPa 0.75 - 1.575 GPa

Strength at Break (Tensile) 10 - 20 MPa 25 - 45 MPa 30 - 40 MPa

Strength at Yield (Tensile) 10 - 15 MPa 10 - 30 MPa 25 - 30 MPa

Toughness (Notched Izod Impact at Room

999 J/m 54 - 999 J/m 20 - 220 J/m
Temperature)
Toughness at Low Temperature (Notched
240 - 694 J/m 294 - 970 J/m -
Izod Impact at Low Temperature)

Young Modulus 0.13 - 0.3 GPa 0.266 - 0.525 GPa 0.5 - 1.1 GPa

Optical Properties

Gloss 35 - 97 % 32 - 85 % 5 - 120 %

Haze 1.3 - 27.5 % 0.8 - 28 % 6%

Transparency (% Visible Light Transmission) 80 % - 80 %

Physical Properties

Density 0.917 - 0.94 g/cm3 0.915 - 0.95 g/cm3 0.94 - 0.97 g/cm3

Glass Transition Temperature -110°C -110°C -110°C

Radiation Resistance

UV Light Resistance Fair Fair Poor

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Gamma Radiation Resistance - - Fair
Service Temperature

Ductile / Brittle Transition Temperature -70 °C -70 °C -70 °C

HDT @0.46 Mpa (67 psi) 40 - 50 °C - 60 - 90 °C

HDT @1.8 Mpa (264 psi) 30 - 40 °C - 45 - 60 °C

Max Continuous Service Temperature 80 - 100 °C 90 - 110 °C 100 - 120 °C

Min Continuous Service Temperature -70 °C -70 °C -70 °C

Others Properties

Thermal Insulation (Thermal Conductivity) 0.32 - 0.35 W/m.K 0.35 - 0.45 W/m.K 0.45 - 0.5 W/m.K

Sterilization Resistance (Repeated) - - Poor

Chemical Properties

Acetone @ 100%, 20°C Limited Limited Limited

Ammonium hydroxide @ 30%, 20°C Satisfying Satisfying Satisfying

Ammonium hydroxide @ diluted, 20°C Satisfying Satisfying Satisfying

Ammonium hydroxide @ diluted, 60°C Satisfying Satisfying Satisfying

Aromatic hydrocarbons @ 20°C Non Satisfactory Non Satisfactory Non Satisfactory

Aromatic hydrocarbons @ hot conditions Non Satisfactory Non Satisfactory Non Satisfactory

Benzene @ 100%, 20°C Non Satisfactory Non Satisfactory Limited

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Butylacetate @ 100%, 20°C Limited Limited Satisfying
Chlorinated solvents @ 20°C Non Satisfactory Non Satisfactory Non Satisfactory

Chloroform @ 20°C Non Satisfactory Non Satisfactory Non Satisfactory

Dioctylphtalate @ 100%, 100°C Non Satisfactory Non Satisfactory -

Dioctylphtalate @ 100%, 20°C Limited Limited Satisfying

Dioctylphtalate @ 100%, 60°C Non Satisfactory Non Satisfactory Limited

Ethanol @ 96%, 20°C Limited Limited Satisfying

Ethyleneglycol (Ethane diol) @ 100%, 20°C Satisfying Satisfying Satisfying

Ethyleneglycol (Ethane diol) @ 100%, 50°C Satisfying Satisfying Satisfying

Glycerol @ 100%, 20°C Satisfying Satisfying Satisfying

Hydrogen peroxide @ 30%, 60°C Limited Limited Satisfying

Kerosene @ 20°C Limited Limited Satisfying

Methanol @ 100%, 20°C Satisfying Satisfying Satisfying

Methylethyl ketone @ 100%, 20°C Limited Limited Satisfying

Mineral oil @ 20°C Limited Limited Satisfying

Phenol @ 20°C Satisfying Satisfying Satisfying

Silicone oil @ 20°C Satisfying Satisfying Satisfying

Sodium hydroxide @ 40% Satisfying Satisfying Satisfying Back to Top

Sodium hydroxide @ 10%, 20°C Satisfying Satisfying Satisfying

Sodium hydroxide @ 10%, 60°C - - Satisfying

Sodium hypochlorite @ 20%, 20°C Satisfying Satisfying Satisfying

Strong acids @ concentrated, 20°C - - Satisfying

Toluene @ 20°C Non Satisfactory Non Satisfactory Limited

Toluene @ 60°C Non Satisfactory Non Satisfactory Non Satisfactory

Xylene @ 20°C Non Satisfactory Non Satisfactory Limited

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