| HS Code | 919460 |
| Material Type | High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) Copolymer |
| Pe Classification | PE100 |
| Melt Flow Type | Fractional Melt |
| Melt Mass Flow Rate Mfr | 0.35 g/10 min at 190°C/2.16 kg |
| Density | 0.949 g/cm3 |
| Tensile Strength At Yield | 26 MPa |
| Tensile Strength At Break | 31 MPa |
| Elongation At Break | >600% |
| Flexural Modulus | 1170 MPa |
| Notched Izod Impact Strength | 80 J/m |
| Vicat Softening Temperature | 123°C |
| Heat Deflection Temperature At 0 45 Mpa | 71°C |
| Brittleness Temperature | <-70°C |
| Environmental Stress Crack Resistance | >1000 h |
| Hardness Shore D | 65 |
As an accredited Chase Plastics HDPE PE100HDC-.35FM factory, we enforce strict quality protocols—every batch undergoes rigorous testing to ensure consistent efficacy and safety standards.
| Packing | Chase Plastics HDPE PE100HDC-.35FM is typically supplied in 50-lb polyethylene-lined bags, 40 bags per pallet (2,000 lb total). |
| Container Loading (20′ FCL) | 20′ FCL container loaded with Chase Plastics HDPE PE100HDC-.35FM plastic resin, palletized and secured for ocean shipment. |
| Shipping | Chase Plastics HDPE PE100HDC-.35FM is a non-hazardous high-density polyethylene resin. It is not regulated by DOT, IMDG, or IATA; no UN number, hazard class, or placards required. Typically shipped in bags, octabins, or bulk bags. Keep dry, clean, and away from ignition sources. Follow the SDS. |
| Storage | Store Chase Plastics HDPE PE100HDC-.35FM in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area, away from direct sunlight, heat, flames, and strong oxidizers. Keep original containers sealed, palletized, and off the floor to prevent moisture and contamination. Maintain ambient storage conditions, avoid prolonged UV exposure, and follow first-in, first-out inventory practices. Use clean handling equipment. |
| Shelf Life | Shelf Life: Indefinite when stored in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area away from direct sunlight, heat, and contaminants. |
Municipal pressure pipe extrusion using Chase Plastics HDPE PE100 HDC-0.35FM is executed on grooved-barrel single-screw extruders with 30:1–36:1 L/D ratios because the 0.35 g/10 min melt flow rate at 190°C/2.16 kg per ISO 1133-1:2022 produces a high-viscosity melt that demands positive feed conveying and long barrier sections to avoid throughput surging. In potable water and gas distribution formulations, carbon black masterbatch is metered to deliver 2.0–2.5% carbon black by mass in the pipe wall; with a 40% pigment masterbatch this requires 5.0–6.25 wt% masterbatch addition, and dispersion is controlled under ISO 18553 with a maximum un-dispersed particle rating of 3. The production line is configured with a 75–90 mm grooved-barrel extruder, a barrier screw with 33:1 L/D, screen pack staged as 60/100/60 mesh, and a spiral pipe die with die land length 10–14 times the die gap. Melt temperature is held at 200–230°C, vacuum calibration pressure is maintained at -0.03 to -0.08 MPa, cooling water is controlled at 12–18°C, and online ultrasonic thickness measurement prevents wall eccentricity above ±0.2 mm. Screw design uses a barrier flight that separates the solid bed from the melt pool; production-scale lines with grooved barrels show that die-head pressure fluctuations should remain within ±2% or on-line thickness control will oscillate. The PE100 classification requires a lower confidence limit for long-term hydrostatic strength of at least 10.0 MPa at 20°C for 50 years under ISO 9080 and ISO 12162, and finished pipe is qualified under ISO 4427-2 for water supply and ISO 4437-2 for natural gas distribution. Terminal products include SDR 11 PE100 rated PN 16 potable water mains, SDR 17 rising mains for sewage, and SDR 11 gas distribution pipes with derating factors for methane. Process boundaries are explicit: melt temperatures above 240°C increase gel counts and oxidation volatiles, moisture content above 0.02% generates pinholes during vacuum sizing, and shear residence time above 20 min at 230°C degrades hydrostatic design life.
For geomembrane conversion, flat-die sheet extrusion lines with die widths up to 7,000 mm are used because the critical performance variable is slow crack growth under long-term chemical exposure rather than hydrostatic hoop stress. The resin is let down with carbon black masterbatch to reach 2.0–3.0% carbon black by mass in the finished liner, as required by GRI-GM13; at a 40% pigment loading the masterbatch addition is 5.0–7.5 wt%. Stabilization is verified by standard oxidative induction time testing per ASTM D3895, with an acceptance boundary of 100 min at 200°C, and high-pressure OIT per ASTM D5885 is applied for mining applications with elevated leachate temperatures. The extruder is run with barrel temperatures 210–230°C, die gap 2.0–3.5 mm for finished thickness 1.5–3.0 mm, and beta gauges control thickness variation within ±10% under ASTM D5199. Smooth sheet is polished on roll stacks, while single-side or double-side texture is applied with embossing rolls or nitrogen gas at the die lip. Compliance for landfill and mining liners is anchored to GRI-GM13 with tensile properties tested as ASTM D638 Type IV, tear resistance under ASTM D1004, puncture resistance under ASTM D4833, carbon black content under ASTM D1603, and stress crack resistance under ASTM D5397. Terminal products are 1.5 mm, 2.0 mm, and 2.5 mm HDPE geomembranes for landfill base liners, heap leach pads, evaporation ponds, and secondary containment. The operational boundary is not temperature alone: resin moisture above 0.02% produces microvoids that become slow crack initiation sites, and published data for this exact grade under mixed organic leachate exposure is limited; therefore site-specific chemical resistance testing should be performed using immersion under ASTM D5747 before specifying for solvent-laden containment.
Storm-water detention systems and agricultural drainage networks convert PE100 HDC-0.35FM into corrugated pipe through a continuous vacuum-forming corrugator rather than a static pipe die. The formulation uses carbon black masterbatch at 5.0–6.25 wt% for final carbon black content of 2.0–2.5%, plus a fluoropolymer processing aid at 0.02–0.05 wt% during startup to suppress melt fracture in the thin corrugation roots; calcium stearate at 0.05–0.10 wt% is added only when bridge feeding and screw slip are observed on production-scale 75 mm extruders. The extruder is configured with a 30:1 L/D single-stage screw and a discharge head feeding a corrugator with oscillating mold blocks, vacuum level -0.05 MPa, and mold block temperature 15–25°C. Melt temperature is kept at 190–220°C; tube formability is verified by infrared pyrometer and corrugation depth is inspected with laser profilometry. Governing documents are AASHTO M294-22 for polyethylene corrugated drainage pipe and ASTM D2412-21 for pipe stiffness; electrical conduit produced from the same grade is listed under UL 651B. Terminal products include 100–1500 mm dual-wall corrugated culverts, agricultural field drainage pipe, and buried power/telecom conduit. The main failure boundary on corrugation lines is melt sag between the extruder die and the mold block: at melt temperatures above 220°C the tube draws down unevenly and corrugation root thickness falls below the project minimum, while below 190°C melt fracture in the corrugation valleys initiates cracking during pipe stiffness testing.
The following matrix consolidates the controlling standards for each conversion route.
| Conversion route | Governing standards | Critical test method | Acceptance threshold |
|---|---|---|---|
| Municipal pressure pipe | ISO 4427-2, ISO 4437-2, ISO 12162 | ISO 9080 long-term hydrostatic strength; ISO 1167-1 short-term hydrostatic | σ LPL ≥ 10.0 MPa at 20°C, 50 yr |
| Geomembrane liner | GRI-GM13, ASTM D5199 | ASTM D638 Type IV; ASTM D5397 SP-NCTL; ASTM D3895 OIT | thickness variation ≤ ±10%; OIT ≥ 100 min |
| Corrugated drainage/conduit | AASHTO M294-22, UL 651B | ASTM D2412-21 pipe stiffness | project-specified minimum stiffness at 5% deflection |
| Blow molded drums | 49 CFR 178.504, UN Model Regulations Chapter 6.1 | drop, leakproofness, stack tests per 49 CFR 178.502 | packing group-specific drop height; no leakage at 30 kPa |
| Sheet/thermoforming | FDA 21 CFR 177.1520, EU Regulation 10/2011 | ISO 527-2 tensile; ISO 178 flexural | density ≥ 0.940 g/cm³; contact temperature margin below 121°C |
In accumulator-head blow molding, the high melt strength of PE100 HDC-0.35FM allows large industrial container parisons of 20–50 kg with controlled sag, but the same molecular weight distribution can generate melt fracture at die lands when the melt temperature falls below 180°C. Accumulator-head machines with extruder L/D ratios of 28:1–32:1 and shot capacities 30–60 kg are operated at 180–210°C, with parison die gap 2–4 mm, blow pressure 0.6–1.0 MPa, and mold temperature 8–15°C. For outdoor-rated 220 L open-head drums the mold closing force is 300–500 t. Parison programming with a multi-point controller adjusts thickness distribution to compensate die swell and sag; pinch-off weld line thickness below 2.0 mm is rejected after sectioning. Formulation additions are kept lower than pipe or geomembrane because excessive masterbatch can alter hoop tensile yield and environmental stress crack resistance: UV stabilizer masterbatch at 1.5–2.0 wt%, color concentrate at 1.0–2.0 wt%, and reprocessed regrind not exceeding 30 wt% after the melt flow rate shift is verified below 0.05 g/10 min. Compliance is anchored to UN Model Regulations Chapter 6.1, 49 CFR 178.504, and ADR 6.1; packaging is subjected to drop testing, leakproofness at 30 kPa for 10 min, hydrostatic pressure testing, and stack loading at 40°C for 28 days. Terminal products include 120 L and 220 L UN 1H1 open-head drums, 1H2 closed-head drums, and inner bottles for 1000 L composite IBCs used in acid, agricultural chemical, and food-additive shipment. Boundary conditions: amine-based external antistatic concentrates are excluded from oxygen-sensitive filling goods because residual amines reduce oxidation induction time; wet resin with moisture above 0.02% creates parison pinholes at the pinch-off seam; and melt temperatures above 210°C produce parison sag sufficient to reduce sidewall thickness below minimum UN design type approval.
Across the conversion routes, the formulation addition ratios and process limits are not interchangeable; the following table records the production-derived values that differ by downstream equipment class.
| Scenario | Additive or process variable | Loading / setpoint | Boundary condition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pressure pipe | Carbon black masterbatch (40% pigment) | 5.0–6.25 wt% | final CB 2.0–2.5%; moisture ≤ 0.02% |
| Pressure pipe | Melt temperature | 200–230°C | ≤ 240°C; residence ≤ 20 min |
| Geomembrane | Carbon black masterbatch (40% pigment) | 5.0–7.5 wt% | final CB 2.0–3.0%; OIT ≥ 100 min |
| Geomembrane | Die gap / finished thickness | 2.0–3.5 mm / 1.5–3.0 mm | thickness variation ≤ ±10% |
| Corrugated pipe | Processing aid | 0.02–0.05 wt% | stop after startup if back pressure decays > 10% |
| Corrugated pipe | Melt temperature / vacuum | 190–220°C / -0.05 MPa | corrugation root thinning above 220°C |
| Blow molded drums | UV masterbatch / regrind | 1.5–2.0 wt% / ≤ 30 wt% | ΔMFR ≤ 0.05 g/10 min |
| Blow molded drums | Melt temperature / die gap | 180–210°C / 2–4 mm | no parison sag above 210°C; no melt fracture below 180°C |
| Sheet/thermoforming | Antioxidant masterbatch / antiblock | 0.1–0.3 wt% / 0.1–0.2 wt% | avoid overstabilization due color shift in white sheet |
| Sheet/thermoforming | Sheet surface thermoforming temperature | 155–165°C | sag above 170°C; poor plug conformity below 150°C |
Extruded sheet from PE100 HDC-0.35FM is produced on a flat-die line where the die gap is set from 2–12 mm and the three-roll stack operates at 80–100°C to control crystallization and sheet curl. The grade is let down with antioxidant masterbatch at 0.1–0.3 wt%, anti-block silica at 0.1–0.2 wt%, and custom color concentrate at 2.0–4.0 wt% when opacity is specified; in food-contact applications masterbatch carriers must comply with FDA 21 CFR 177.1520 and EU Regulation 10/2011, and the finished sheet is tested under ISO 527-2 and ISO 178 for tensile and flexural properties. The sheet extruder is a 30:1 L/D single-screw machine with barrel temperatures 200–230°C, while the flat die uses restrictor-bar adjustment to correct transverse thickness variation to ±0.05 mm for sheet below 3 mm and ±0.15 mm for sheet above 8 mm. A melt pump is installed between extruder and flat die to reduce pressure oscillations to ±0.2 MPa. Thermoforming is conducted when the sheet surface temperature reaches 155–165°C, not when the oven setpoint reaches that range; production lines use scanning infrared pyrometers because the core-to-surface temperature lag in 10 mm sheet exceeds 10°C. Female mold temperature is kept at 40–60°C, and plug-assist speed is reduced below 150 mm/s to avoid localized thinning at the plug contact perimeter. Terminal products include heavy-duty cutting boards, chemical containment trays, industrial dunnage trays, and twin-sheet thermoformed valve boxes. The primary failure boundary is sag: above 170°C the sheet loses male mold conformity and below 150°C the plug-assist force increases and stress whitening appears at bend radii. Published data for this exact grade under high-draw twin-sheet thermoforming is limited, so initial production trials should map sheet surface temperature and plug force rather than relying on oven air temperature alone.
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Chase Plastics HDPE PE100HDC-.35FM is a fractional-melt high-density polyethylene copolymer distributed for blown-film and extruded sheet applications where melt strength, impact resistance, and environmental stress crack resistance are the controlling design properties. The product designation embeds a nominal melt index of 0.35 g/10 min tested at 190°C/2.16 kg according to ASTM D1238 and ISO 1133-1:2022. Typical density for this grade family is 0.949 g/cm³ under ASTM D1505 or ISO 1183-1:2019. The resin is a hexene-modified high-density polyethylene with a broadened molecular weight distribution; the HDC segment of the grade designation identifies high-density copolymer chemistry, while the .35FM segment identifies the fractional-melt film-market position. The PE100 portion of the grade designation is a commercial family identifier and does not correspond to the PE100 hydrostatic pressure rating defined in ISO 12162. Lot-specific values for molecular weight distribution, comonomer placement, and rheology should be obtained from the certificate of analysis supplied with each shipment, because Chase Plastics distributes the grade and the polymerization site remains the source of production data.
Melt temperature settings for PE100HDC-.35FM are constrained by the need to homogenize the high-molecular-weight tail without generating oxidative gels. On a single-screw extruder with a 24:1 to 30:1 L/D barrier screw and a Maddock-style mixing section, barrel zones are typically set from 180°C at the feed throat to 220°C at the die. A die set of 210°C maintains melt strength for high-stalk bubble stability. The resin’s high viscosity at low shear rates increases backpressure; grooved-feed extruders with force-fed cooling of the feed throat may draw 15–20% higher motor amperage than a 0.7 MI hexene-copolymer HDPE run at the same screw speed. The extruder drive and thermocouple mapping must account for viscous heat generation above 60 rpm, and barrel cooling blowers generally activate during production runs above 180 kg/h on a 75 mm extruder. Residual moisture in the pellet feed is not a primary volatile removal issue for polyethylene, but wet regrind above 60% RH should be predried at 60°C for 2 h to prevent surface splay in thin-gauge film.
Bubble configuration for the 0.35 melt index fraction typically uses a high-stalk geometry with a stalk height of 6 to 8 die diameters and a blow-up ratio of 3:1 to 4:1. The long-stalk protocol increases melt orientation and improves dart impact and tear anisotropy. In production, a 250 mm annular die with a 1.2 mm die gap produces stable bubbles at a frost line height of 800–1000 mm; increasing the frost line height beyond 1000 mm can raise transverse-direction shrinkage. Operators report that bubble instability occurs when the melt temperature falls below 190°C, appearing as oscillation at the frost line and gauge variation greater than ±5% across the web. The condition is corrected by raising the die set temperature or reducing line speed.
Single-screw design for this high-molecular-weight HDPE film is often based on a barrier screw with a feed section of 5D to 7D, a barrier section of 9D to 12D, and a metering section of 8D to 10D. The barrier flight clearance at 75 rpm generates shear rates below 50 s⁻¹ in the metering section, limiting viscous heating. Melt pressure at the screen changer commonly reaches 35–45 MPa with a 250 mm die and a screen pack of 20/40/60 mesh. A gear pump is not always required with a grooved-feed extruder, but it can reduce pressure fluctuation and film gauge variation to below ±3%. Extruder drive sizing for a 75 mm line should reserve at least 15% additional motor capacity relative to a 0.7 MI resin to accommodate the lower melt index.
Substitution of the 0.35 MI product for a 0.7 MI high-density film resin changes the shear-thinning profile and the bubble cooling demand. At a fixed screw speed, output falls by approximately 10–15% because the metering section conveys less melt per revolution against the higher head pressure. The comparative advantage appears in solid-state property tests: blown film at 25 µm gauge typically shows higher dart impact under ASTM D1709 Condition A, often above 120 g, and elevated Elmendorf tear in the transverse direction under ASTM D1922, often above 400 g. These improvements allow converters to reduce film thickness by 10–20% while maintaining the puncture resistance required for heavy-duty liners. The trade-off is a narrower production speed range and stronger potential for melt fracture if the die temperature is not raised. Melt fracture in the high-stalk process appears as helical die lines and can be suppressed by opening the die gap from 1.0 mm to 1.5 mm or by adding 2–5% LLDPE as a processing aid.
Batch-to-batch variance in rheology is monitored through the ratio of high-load melt index to standard melt index. The ratio I21/I2 is reported on the certificate of analysis; for this grade the ratio typically falls between 85 and 100. A shift above 100 indicates broadening of the molecular weight distribution and may require adjustment of the die gap or melt temperature. A shift below 80 suggests a narrower distribution and lower melt strength; bubble stability may deteriorate in high-stalk operation. The standard test conditions are 190°C and 21.6 kg for I21 and 190°C and 2.16 kg for I2 under ASTM D1238. Rheological data from a capillary rheometer at 190°C and 230°C show shear-thinning behaviour with a power-law index near 0.35 at shear rates from 100 s⁻¹ to 1000 s⁻¹, consistent with commercial fractional-melt HDPE film resins and with the use of barrier screws with moderate shear mixing.
Useful differences between PE100HDC-.35FM and other high-density film resins are summarized in Table 1. The comparative values are drawn from typical commercial datasheets for hexene-copolymer HDPE film resins and are not a substitute for lot-specific certification. Environmental stress crack resistance is evaluated by ASTM D1693 Condition B, with an F50 value that generally exceeds 600 h for the 0.35 MI hexene-copolymer family. Butene-based HDPE of equivalent melt index commonly shows an F50 value below 300 h, which is one reason that film converters specify hexene comonomer when the package will contact wetting agents or fatty wastes.
| Property | Test standard | PE100HDC-.35FM typical range | 0.7 MI hexene HDPE | 0.2 MI bimodal HDPE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Melt index at 190°C/2.16 kg | ASTM D1238 | 0.30–0.40 g/10 min | 0.65–0.75 g/10 min | 0.17–0.23 g/10 min |
| Density | ASTM D1505 | 0.946–0.951 g/cm³ | 0.950–0.954 g/cm³ | 0.946–0.949 g/cm³ |
| Dart impact, 25 µm film | ASTM D1709 Condition A | ≥120 g | 80–110 g | ≥250 g |
| Elmendorf tear, transverse direction | ASTM D1922 | ≥400 g | 250–350 g | ≥600 g |
| Tensile yield strength, machine direction | ASTM D882 | 24–28 MPa | 26–30 MPa | 22–26 MPa |
| Environmental stress crack resistance F50 | ASTM D1693 Condition B | >600 h | 100–300 h | >1000 h |
The density difference of less than 0.005 g/cm³ between PE100HDC-.35FM and higher-density film grades is small in absolute terms, but it shifts the modulus and barrier balance. Water vapor transmission rate at 25 µm is controlled primarily by density and thickness; the 0.949 g/cm³ grade therefore provides slightly lower moisture barrier than a 0.954 g/cm³ HDPE film of the same gauge. Conversely, the lower density reduces crystalline content and improves resistance to slow crack growth under stress. These effects are measurable with ASTM F1249 for water vapor transmission and ASTM D638 for tensile properties, but published data for this specific configuration is limited.
The high-stalk blown film process requires a resin that can support a long, stable molten tube without excessive sag. PE100HDC-.35FM meets this requirement through its fractional melt index and broadened molecular weight distribution. On a high-stalk line, the melt is extruded through a die gap of 1.0–1.5 mm, inflated to a blow-up ratio of 3:1 to 4:1, and cooled at a frost line height of 800–1200 mm. The stalk height is used to orient chains in the machine direction before biaxial orientation occurs during inflation. The result is a film with a more balanced tear profile than low-stalk film; the transverse-direction tear can exceed 400 g under ASTM D1922, while machine-direction tear remains lower because of machine-direction orientation. The high-stalk protocol is less tolerant of moisture or particulate contamination than low-stalk processing, because defects in the stalk are amplified into gauge bands.
At 25 µm gauge, the tensile yield stress in the machine direction is typically 24–28 MPa under ASTM D882, while the transverse direction is typically 22–26 MPa. Elongation at break exceeds 500% in both directions unless the film contains high levels of recycled material. The dart impact value is sensitive to gauge, frost line height, and bubble stability; operations that maintain gauge variation below ±5% are more likely to reproduce the upper end of the impact range. When the film is downgauged to 12 µm, the dart impact drops sharply, and published data for this specific configuration is limited; converters should perform drop-tests on the actual package geometry rather than relying on film coupons.
In coextruded structures, PE100HDC-.35FM is commonly placed in the core or inside layer. The high molecular weight of the resin increases melt strength in the combined bubble and permits a higher overall stalk height when coextruded with LLDPE seal layers. The HDPE layer contributes stiffness, moisture barrier, and temperature resistance to the structure. The sealant layer heat seal initiation temperature is commonly near 125°C, and seal strength is measured by ASTM F88. Converters should verify that the HDPE layer does not dominate the sealing interface; if it does, the high seal initiation temperature can narrow the packaging-machine sealing window. The thickness distribution of the HDPE layer is controlled by the die stack and layer ratio, with ±5% gauge uniformity as a practical target.
Residence-time control is more critical for PE100HDC-.35FM than for higher-MI HDPE because the high-molecular-weight fraction is more prone to thermal-oxidative chain scission and crosslinking during extended stops. When a line stop lasts longer than 15 min, the barrel and die should be purged with a lower-viscosity polyethylene or a dedicated purging compound before restarting. Processing temperatures above 260°C should be avoided because the antioxidant package is consumed more rapidly and gel formation accelerates. When switching from a 0.7 MI HDPE to PE100HDC-.35FM, the line should be purged with the new resin or a fractional-melt purge compound until the die pressure stabilizes. Pressure stabilization typically requires 20–30 min on a 75 mm line. Switching in the reverse direction requires a lower-viscosity purge to remove the high-molecular-weight fraction from the die and screw flights. If the product is left in the barrel at processing temperature without rotation for more than 15 min, the first 10–20 kg of film after restart may contain gel particles. The barrel should be cooled to 150°C or below for extended shutdowns.
For thermoformed sheet, stock temperatures between 190°C and 220°C are typical. Sheet thicknesses from 0.5 mm to 2.0 mm require a polished roll stack with roll temperatures between 70°C and 90°C. Below 190°C, melt fracture at the die lip creates transverse lines; above 240°C, oxidative degradation produces gel particles that become visible in the formed part. Published data for specific thermoforming performance of this exact grade is limited, and production-line validation remains necessary. For injection molding, the product is generally unsuitable. The low melt index of 0.35 g/10 min raises spiral flow resistance, and thin-wall tools are likely to exhibit short shots unless melt temperatures exceed 240°C. The high molecular weight also raises clamp force requirements for large projected areas. Different HDPE grades with melt indices above 5 g/10 min are preferable for molding caps, closures, and crates.
Food-contact suitability for polyethylene film resins is assessed under FDA 21 CFR 177.1520(c), with conditions depending on extractable fraction and end-use temperature. The applicable European framework is EU Regulation No 10/2011, under which migration testing of the final article is required because compliance cannot be declared solely from resin composition. Heavy metal restrictions under RoHS Directive 2011/65/EU are met by the absence of intentionally added lead, cadmium, mercury, hexavalent chromium, and restricted brominated flame retardants. REACH compliance is documented through the resin manufacturer’s registration dossier under EC 1907/2006. Table 2 summarizes the verification matrix for converters.
| Regulation or standard | Scope | Converter responsibility |
|---|---|---|
| FDA 21 CFR 177.1520(c) | Polyolefin food contact | Verify final article extraction limits |
| EU Regulation No 10/2011 | Plastic food-contact materials | Migration testing on finished package |
| EC 1907/2006 | REACH registration | Obtain supplier SDS and registration statement |
| RoHS Directive 2011/65/EU | Heavy metal and flame retardant restrictions | Finished article compliance assessment |
When the comparison is made against metallocene LLDPE, PE100HDC-.35FM gives higher density and flexural modulus, with lower elongation at break but better moisture barrier. Against butene-based HDPE of the same melt index, the hexene comonomer produces a greater density of tie molecules, improving slow crack growth resistance and tear propagation resistance. The selection boundary is therefore defined by the relative value of stiffness and moisture barrier versus low-temperature toughness and clarity. In applications where film clarity, low-temperature impact, and elongation are critical, a metallocene LLDPE or a lower-density HDPE film grade is generally substituted. In applications where puncture resistance, stiffness, and cost per unit volume dominate, the 0.35 MI hexene-copolymer HDPE remains the more common specification.
Agricultural silage film uses the product in the core layer to provide puncture resistance against stalk and stone contact. A typical three-layer structure places the HDPE component between two LLDPE skins. The high melt strength of the 0.35 MI core layer supports the bubble during high-output production on lines equipped with 300 mm and 400 mm dies. The moisture barrier contribution is moderate, and the final film water vapor transmission rate is determined by the combined layer thicknesses and densities under ASTM F1249. The addition of post-consumer recycled HDPE is possible, but the melt index of the blend increases with recycled content. Published data for this specific configuration is limited, and the blend ratio must be adjusted by lot. Paper labels or incompatible polymer contaminants can create gels and pinholes in film below 25 µm.
