| HS Code | 938970 |
| Polymer Type | High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) |
| Density | 0.958 g/cm³ |
| Melt Flow Rate 190 C 2 16 Kg | 8 g/10 min |
| Tensile Modulus | 1500 MPa |
| Tensile Stress At Yield | 31 MPa |
| Tensile Strain At Break | >100% |
| Charpy Notched Impact Strength 23 C | 4 kJ/m² |
| Charpy Notched Impact Strength 20 C | 2.5 kJ/m² |
| Vicat Softening Temperature A50 | 78°C |
| Melting Temperature | 134°C |
| Crystallization Temperature | 115°C |
| Shore D Hardness | 65 |
| Water Absorption | <0.01% |
| Thermal Conductivity | 0.4 W/m·K |
As an accredited Borealis HDPE HE4872 factory, we enforce strict quality protocols—every batch undergoes rigorous testing to ensure consistent efficacy and safety standards.
| Packing | Borealis HDPE HE4872 is supplied in 25 kg polyethylene bags, palletized as 1,000 kg pallets, and stretch-wrapped for transport. |
| Container Loading (20′ FCL) | Container loading (20′ FCL): Borealis HDPE HE4872 high-density polyethylene in 25 kg bags, palletized, shrink-wrapped, and securely strapped for transport. |
| Shipping | Borealis HDPE HE4872 is a non-hazardous high-density polyethylene resin. It is typically shipped in 25 kg bags, octabins, or bulk trucks/railcars. No UN number, hazard class, or placarding is required. Keep dry, avoid UV exposure and ignition sources. Standard road, rail, and sea freight applies. |
| Storage | Store Borealis HDPE HE4872 in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area, away from direct sunlight, heat, sparks, and flames. Keep original packaging sealed and palletized; prevent moisture, dust, and contamination. Avoid contact with strong oxidizers. Stack securely to prevent collapse. Use appropriate PPE when handling. Ensure good housekeeping and avoid generating dust. Observe local regulations and manufacturer’s safety data sheet recommendations. |
| Shelf Life | Borealis HDPE HE4872 has a 24-month shelf life when stored dry, in original packaging, away from sunlight and heat. |
High-cavitation injection moulding of single-piece carbonated soft drink closures converts HE4872 into 28/30 mm PCO 1881 caps with shot weights between 1.8 g and 4.5 g on 48- to 96-cavity valve-gate hot-runner tools. Barrel melt temperatures are maintained from 185°C to 215°C, while mould cooling circuits are held at 10–30°C. Hydraulic injection pressure setpoints vary from 75 MPa to 115 MPa, with hold pressures of 35–60 MPa applied for 0.4–1.8 s to compensate for linear mould shrinkage of 1.2–2.0% measured after 24 h at 23°C. Tool venting depths of 0.010–0.025 mm at the last filling areas prevent gas burn at the thread roots; however, excessive venting generates flash on the tamper-evident band. Processors record top-load scatter as the primary variable, caused by gate freeze-off differences across cavities. When the valve gate closes too early, the closure top plate densifies but the thread peaks remain underfilled; when the gate is held too long, the gate pad becomes a thick annulus that shrinks and reduces sealing surface flatness. Carbonation stress cracking of the thread roots is assessed through ASTM D1693-B with a 10% Igepal CO-630 solution at 50°C. Grade-specific ESCR is sensitive to melt residence time: after 12 minutes in the hot runner at 215°C, the ESCR failure time can decline by more than 25% compared with a 5-minute residence, so converters servicing frequent colour changes should use cold-runner or hot-runner purging protocols with low holdup. Densities measured by ISO 1183-1:2019 are typically in the range of 0.950–0.958 g/cm³ for closure-grade HDPE, while MFR per ISO 1133-1:2022 must be confirmed from the lot certificate because a shift of 0.5 g/10 min can alter hot-runner pressure drop by several MPa. Top-load retention at 2.0 mm/min crosshead speed typically exceeds 250 N for 28 mm closures, but the value is highly dependent on thread flank geometry and skirt thickness. No drying is required below 0.05% surface moisture, but silo condensation in coastal conversion plants can produce splay at the gate pad.
| Regulatory requirement | Standard or clause | Application condition |
|---|---|---|
| EU plastic food-contact material | EU Regulation 10/2011 as amended, Annex I and II | Overall migration limit 10 mg/dm² in aqueous, acidic, alcoholic food simulants |
| U.S. food-contact polymer | 21 CFR 177.1520 | Olefin polymer specification for closure grade HDPE |
| Good manufacturing practice | 21 CFR 174.5 | Consistent MFR, density, and additive compliance on certificate of analysis |
| EU packaging heavy metals | Directive 94/62/EC | Pb, Cd, Hg, Cr(VI) total concentration 100 ppm |
| REACH SVHC screening | Regulation (EC) 1907/2006 | No intentionally added SVHC in HE4872 |
Still-water closures differ from carbonated closures because the sensory threshold for off-taste is lower and closure weight is reduced to 1.4–2.2 g. On high-speed injection tools, shear heating at the gate can raise local melt temperature 15–30°C above the barrel setpoint. If the gate land exceeds 220°C for prolonged cycles, oxidative scission of the HDPE backbone produces aldehydes and ketones that migrate into mineral water when the closure is stored at 40°C for 10 days. Gate diameters between 0.6 mm and 1.0 mm are used to balance pressure drop and shear rate. Injection velocity profiles of 100–200 mm/s reduce visible gate blush but increase peak shear rate. Cavity-to-cavity temperature spread above ±5°C produces variation in closure weight and seal ring thickness. Multi-nozzle manifolds with individually controlled valve-gate pins reduce this spread. In sensory panel evaluations, off-taste is minimised by keeping the melt temperature below 205°C and limiting screw recovery residence time below 8 minutes. Mould release sprays are excluded because silicone and fatty acid residues alter surface energy and sealing performance. The base polymer is compliant with EU Regulation 10/2011, while converters must run migration testing on the finished closure using food simulants A, B, C, D1, and D2 selected under Commission Regulation (EU) 2020/1245.
On rotary compression-moulding lines operating at 600–1,000 caps/min, pellet plastification occurs in a single-screw extruder with barrel zones between 175°C and 205°C. The melt is cut into discrete doses and transferred to cold moulds; compression force per cavity ranges from 20 kN to 35 kN. Mould temperature controlled at 10–35°C removes latent heat so that the closure can be ejected below 45°C to prevent post-mould shrinkage in the tamper-evident band. Compression moulding generates lower gate shear than injection moulding, which preserves molecular weight in the cap hinge and band. However, radial density gradients form when the dose centre cools more slowly than the skirt periphery, creating ovality measured as a change in inside diameter of 0.15–0.40 mm after 24 h. Secondary machining of tamper-evident bridges is not required when tool clearances are held at 0.02–0.05 mm. Top-load is assessed at 23°C and 50% relative humidity after 48 h of conditioning. Processors using Sacmi CCM series units observe that bridge fracture during ejection increases if the mould opening speed exceeds 350 mm/s because the semi-crystalline HDPE band is still below its ductile-to-brittle transition just after solidification.
White pigmentation for dairy creamer closures is achieved by dosing a 40–60% TiO₂ masterbatch at 3–6 wt% into HE4872. The masterbatch carrier is usually LLDPE or LDPE; at 6 wt%, blend density rises by 0.02–0.04 g/cm³ and MFR can drop by 0.2–0.8 g/10 min due to nucleated crystallisation of HDPE in the presence of titanium dioxide. Lightness is measured by ISO 11664-4, with opacity above 90% at 1.2 mm thickness expected for 40% white masterbatch additions above 4 wt%. The main processing risk is gate build-up of TiO₂ agglomerates in valve-gate tools. Screen packs in the extruder feed zone at 80–120 mesh reduce agglomerates but raise melt pressure. In some closures, 3 wt% masterbatch is sufficient for a 0.8 mm wall; thicker walls require higher dosage. Dispersion quality is assessed by ISO 18553 on microtomed sections; pigment agglomerates larger than 25 µm cause pinhole leaks and flavour scalping. Top-load on white closures is typically 5–15% lower than natural material because TiO₂ particles act as stress concentrators in the crystalline matrix. The compliance matrix for pigmented closures must be extended to include the masterbatch carrier resin and surface-coated TiO₂, both of which require separate food-contact declarations under EU Regulation 10/2011 and 21 CFR 177.1520.
Induction-seal closure liners are produced by coextruding HE4872 as a backing layer with an aluminium foil layer and a heat-sealable EVA or LDPE film. The HDPE layer must withstand induction heating at 100–200 kHz without warping above 70°C. Liner thickness between 0.25 mm and 0.50 mm is typical. The HDPE backing is adhered to foil using a tie layer; after induction sealing, the HDPE layer remains in the cap and must not delaminate under torque. Seal strength is tested according to ASTM F88-21 on 25 mm coupons; peel forces above 15 N/15 mm are required for acidified dairy products. Converters report that back-side foam collapse and foil wrinkling occur when the HDPE backing is heated above 125°C, so induction dwell time and coil height are adjusted to maintain foil temperature below the crystallisation transition of the backing layer. Published data for HE4872 in this specific liner configuration is limited; qualification therefore relies on finished-liner seal reliability trials rather than supplier datasheet values.
Non-food closures for household chemical bottles and industrial containers can incorporate post-consumer recycled HDPE. When HE4872 is blended with 15–25 wt% recyclate from coloured bottle crumb, the MFR increases or decreases depending on the recycled fraction. In practice, converters test each lot for density and MFR before adjusting melt temperature. ESCR measured by ASTM D1693-B generally falls with recyclate addition, with reductions of 30–50% at 25 wt% recyclate in some published cradle-to-cradle trials; where the closure must protect bleach or surfactants, ESCR above 100 h is preferred. Impact strength at −20°C is assessed by ISO 179-1/1eA. For closures with a wall thickness below 1.0 mm, impact values below 4 kJ/m² increase the risk of hinge cracking during child-resistant push-and-turn activation. The reuse of recycled HDPE in food-contact closures is allowed only if the recyclate complies with Commission Regulation (EU) 2022/1616 and applicable national food-contact approvals.
| Recyclate addition | MFR shift under ISO 1133-1:2022 | Density shift under ISO 1183-1:2019 | ESCR retention under ASTM D1693-B |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 wt% | baseline | baseline | 100% |
| 15 wt% | ±0.2–0.5 g/10 min | +0.001–0.003 g/cm³ | 70–85% |
| 25 wt% | ±0.4–1.0 g/10 min | +0.002–0.005 g/cm³ | 50–70% |
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Borealis HDPE HE4872 is a high-density polyethylene designed for extrusion blow moulding of rigid packaging. The material is identified in technical documentation as Borealis BorPure HE4872. The grade falls within the PE-HD family designated under ISO 17855-1 and is associated with a bimodal molecular weight distribution typical of Borealis Borstar high-density polyethylene production. Representative published datasheet values include a density of 0.948 g/cm³ determined according to ISO 1183-1, a melt flow rate of 0.6 g/10 min at 190 °C/2.16 kg according to ISO 1133-1, tensile yield stress of 25 MPa according to ISO 527-2, flexural modulus of 1200 MPa according to ISO 178, notched Charpy impact resistance of 5.5 kJ/m² at 23 °C according to ISO 179-1/1eA, and Vicat softening temperature of 127 °C under ISO 306/A50. Actual lot values are governed by the shipment release specification rather than representative datasheet figures.
The designation HE4872 does not refer to a single mechanical property. It is a commercial grade code within the Borealis high-density polyethylene range. Compared with pipe-grade HDPE materials classified as PE 100 under ISO 12162, HE4872 is not intended for pressure piping applications where long-term hydrostatic strength under ISO 9080 is required. Compared with film-grade HDPE with density below 0.950 g/cm³, HE4872 is formulated primarily for parison stability in blow moulding rather than bubble stability in blown film.
On shuttle-type machines with screw diameters from 60 mm to 80 mm and L/D ratios from 24:1 to 30:1, the controlling constraint is usually parison sag rather than plastication capacity. A reciprocating or accumulator head can deliver shot volumes for containers from approximately 50 mL to 2 L, but gravitational sag of a low-melt-flow resin limits the practical upper container size when drop times exceed 2.5 s to 3.0 s. Melt temperature at the die exit is normally maintained between 180 °C and 220 °C. At the lower bound, die-head pressure can exceed 350 bar on conventional clamp heads, and sharkskin melt fracture becomes visible on the parison surface. At the upper bound, oxidative chain scission during extended hold periods increases gel formation and yellowish discolouration. Production-scale observation indicates that melt-temperature fluctuations of ±5 °C around the optimised setting can shift parison wall distribution by more than 8% on thin sidewall regions. A servo-hydraulic die-pin positioning system with repeatability of ±0.05 mm is therefore necessary for axial parison programming. Radial wall-thickness uniformity is governed by die centring and melt-channel symmetry, not by the resin alone.
For a 1 L bottle mould, clamp force requirements on shuttle-type blow moulders are generally between 10 t and 15 t. Blow pressure is typically between 6 bar and 10 bar. In-mould cooling time depends on wall thickness, surface-to-volume ratio, and mould temperature. For an average wall thickness of 0.8 mm, cooling times from 12 s to 18 s are common in production. Published data for HE4872-specific cooling optimisation is limited, and converter trials are required to establish removal temperatures below the Vicat softening range.
In comparison to injection moulding HDPE grades with melt flow rates above 4 g/10 min, HE4872 exhibits higher melt strength and a less pronounced shear-thinning response in the extrusion shear-rate window. Capillary rheometry under ISO 11443 is the appropriate method for quantifying this flow divergence. The melt flow rate of 0.6 g/10 min should not be interpreted as a processing liability; it provides the parison hang strength required for uniform bottle wall distribution. When HE4872 is replaced by an injection-grade HDPE with a melt flow rate from 2 g/10 min to 4 g/10 min, parison sag typically appears as thin sidewalls near the pinch-off and thickened shoulder regions. The resulting top-load capacity is reduced by a geometry-dependent factor commonly in the range of 15% to 30% in round containers.
Environmental stress crack resistance is ranked under ASTM D1693 condition B at 50 °C in 10% Igepal CO-630. The test does not directly predict field failure in detergent or agrochemical bottles, but it provides a comparative ranking under a standardised stress-cracking fluid. A bimodal molecular weight distribution with controlled short-chain branching enables higher ESCR than a unimodal HDPE of identical density and melt flow rate. The improvement is not linear. ESCR values can shift by more than 50% when the same resin is processed at melt temperatures above 220 °C or when regrind content exceeds 30%. Weld-line contamination, flash removal, and pinch-off geometry frequently dominate production failure modes more than the resin itself.
Drop-impact performance is evaluated according to ASTM D2463-15. On extrusion blow moulded bottles with a minimum sidewall thickness from 0.8 mm to 1.2 mm, mean failure heights for high-density polyethylene of this density class are commonly observed between 1.5 m and 3.0 m at 23 °C. Published test data for HE4872 in a specific bottle geometry is limited, because drop-impact results depend strongly on parison programming, flash-line geometry, cooling rate, and mould surface finish. At low temperatures, impact toughness decreases. A lower service limit near -40 °C is typical for HDPE packaging, although notched Charpy values at -30 °C are significantly lower than at 23 °C. Frozen-liquid distribution trials are required when refrigerated or frozen filling is intended.
Regulatory conformity must be verified on the finished article after conversion. The resin itself is not a finished food-contact product; compliance is conditional on the converter’s processing conditions, migration testing, and end-use limitations.
| Regulation or Standard | Application to Borealis HDPE HE4872 | Limiting Criterion or Test Basis |
|---|---|---|
| EU Regulation 10/2011 | Plastic materials and articles intended to contact food | Overall migration limit 10 mg/dm² under finished-article testing |
| US FDA 21 CFR 177.1520 | Olefin polymers for food-contact use | Compliance depends on end-use conditions and polymer composition |
| REACH 1907/2006 | Registration, evaluation, and authorisation of chemicals | No intentionally added SVHC above 0.1% w/w per supplier safety data sheet |
| RoHS Directive 2011/65/EU | Restriction of hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment | Lead 0.1% w/w; mercury 0.1% w/w; cadmium 0.01% w/w; hexavalent chromium 0.1% w/w; PBB 0.1% w/w; PBDE 0.1% w/w in homogeneous materials |
For containers with nominal wall thickness below 0.4 mm, HE4872 can still be extrusion blow moulded, but the process window narrows. Parison length control becomes critical because a low-flow resin cools faster during drop. Die gaps must be enlarged relative to the target wall thickness, which increases die-swell variability. The lower melt flow also reduces the ability of the melt to redistribute around sharp handle regions and deep pinch-off zones. In thin-wall injection blow moulding, melt temperatures may need to exceed 260 °C, increasing chain-degradation risk. A medium-flow HDPE with melt flow rate between 2 g/10 min and 4 g/10 min should be considered when wall sections fall below 0.35 mm, although this substitution usually reduces ESCR and creep resistance under top load.
Extrusion blow moulding is also distinct from injection stretch blow moulding in the orientation state of the polymer. HE4872 is formulated for extrusion blow moulding, where the parison is stretched in the melt state and cooled under low internal pressure from 6 bar to 10 bar. Injection stretch blow moulding requires strain-hardening behaviour and orientation below the melting range more commonly associated with PET. HE4872 is not formulated for biaxial stretch blow moulding applications. Excessive orientation-induced crystallisation and stress whitening can occur if the material is stretched below its crystalline melting point.
HDPE is not hygroscopic. Pre-drying is generally unnecessary when surface moisture remains below 0.05% by mass. After outdoor storage in humid conditions, surface condensation can produce splay and bubbles at the die exit. A dew-point-controlled hopper dryer at 80 °C for 2 h is a conventional corrective measure. Stored pellets should not be exposed to direct sunlight for extended periods, because ultraviolet degradation raises melt flow rate and lowers ESCR. Contact with aromatic hydrocarbons, chlorinated solvents, strong oxidising acids, and certain oxygenated organic compounds at elevated temperature should be avoided because these agents can plasticise or stress-crack the moulded article. Chemical compatibility testing under end-use conditions is mandatory for detergent, agrochemical, and personal-care formulations.
Top-load testing according to ASTM D2659 measures the compressive force required to buckle a container at a specified crosshead speed. Vibration testing according to ASTM D4728 simulates truck transit loads. A round bottle blow moulded from HE4872 with a minimum sidewall thickness of 0.6 mm and maximum sidewall thickness of 1.0 mm may show top-load capacity above 200 N at 23 °C, but this value is highly geometry-dependent. At 40 °C, creep reduces buckling load by a factor that cannot be predicted from short-term data. Converters should perform top-load creep tests at 40 °C for not less than 24 h when stacking or warehouse storage forms part of the distribution chain.
Regrind management directly affects ESCR and gel formation in bottle production from HE4872. Clean, dry regrind generated on the same blow moulding line can be introduced at levels up to 30% by weight without changing the melt flow rate beyond normal lot-to-lot variation. Above 50% regrind, ESCR loss and black speck formation become measurable. The regrind stream should be sieved through a 2 mm mesh to remove tramp material and unfused gels. Magnetic separation and metal detection at the extruder infeed are standard controls on production-scale extrusion blow moulding lines. The final material-composition record should include regrind source, addition level, and lot traceability data to maintain batch-to-batch consistency.
