HDPE vs LDPE plastic

HDPE vs LDPE plastic Posted on 20/01/2016 | 1 comment We often get asked here at Vital Parts, ‘What are the differences between a HDPE plastic and an LDPE plastic? ‘ Of course, there are a number of differences between the two types of plastics and choosing between the two is often something that comes down to personal preference as well as what the specific use of the part is going to be, other factors such as budget and functionality can also play a large part in whether you choose HDPE or LDPE as your plastic of choice, but what are the main differences between the two? And is one actually better than the other? Well, firstly lets have an overview of the two types of plastics, what they actually mean and what some of their properties are; High Density PolyEthylene – HDPE is a higher density, more rigid type of plastic that is more widely used than LDPE due to its strong, yet lightweight properties which make it ideal for products such as hard hats and carrying containers. It also has great impact strength due to its high density properties meaning its a lot less likely to break if dropped or thrown making it the material of choice for items that need to be rugged and strong, yet lightweight at the same time. HDPE also has a number of other good properties such as weather resistance, mould resistance, chemical resistance, crack resistance and is widely recyclable making it an environmentally friendly solution. Angled chair feet All of our Angled Chair feet are manufactured using an LDPE plastic. Low Density PolyEthylene – LDPE is a more flexible form of plastic than HDPE, although it has a lot of great properties which make it an overall great solution for many different types of products. At Vital Parts we use LDPE to make most of our tube inserts as it provides a strong, durable solution and a clean finish, but it also allows for ribbing on the inner section which provides stability and keeps the application in place when in use. LDPE it is more widely used for items such as carrier bags, lightweight containers and tubing due to its lightweight and cost effective properties. It also has a number of good resistive properties such as chemical resistance, stress resistance and crack and impact resistance which again, makes it ideal for use for things that will often be coming in to contact with an application, providing a durable, long lasting solution. Which plastic is better? Now we’ve got a good idea of the properties of both LDPE and HDPE plastics we can begin to understand which one would be best choice for certain applications, for example if you’re looking for something to last a long time, not break easily when dropped and be able to withstand a lot of weight, then the best option would be to go for a HDPE plastic. On the other hand if you’re looking for something that is durable, but needs to be able to fit into an application tightly, then an LDPE plastic is going to be the better option as it is less rigid and is able to be ribbed to provide a tight seal. Therefore it is important to understand the properties you require of a specific part/product when looking at choosing the ideal material as there are a lot of factors that need to be took into account to ensure a solid product, some of the factors you will need to take in to consideration are; Strength of the item Flexibility Overall costing Resistant properties (Chemical, heat, weather etc) Weight Once you have took in to account what properties you need for your product then you should have a good idea of whether HDPE is the better choice, or whether LDPE would work better for the specific application. Overall there is no ‘better’ choice between the two types of plastics as both have their place in the market based on their properties, although for specific applications a harder or softer plastic may be required which can aid in your decision along with price, strength, flexibility etc. If you are looking for custom moulding services and are looking to get a custom part created then please check out our services page to see how we can help you and your business get off the ground today. 1 Comment Posted in General, Guides Tagged chair feet, hdpe, ldpe, plastic, tube inserts Providing solutions for you and your business Posted on 04/01/2016 | Leave a comment At Vital Parts we go out of our way to provide a solution, no matter what you may be looking for. This is what makes us one of the top plastic and rubber manufacturers in the industry. We are striving for perfection and you can be part of it by simply allowing us to take you and your business forward with our products. In this post we are outlining the reason why you and your business should choose us as your solution provider. What makes us different: Custom moulding services – We are one of the only plastic and rubber manufacturers in the UK that work closely with experts to help strengthen and enhance products throughout the moulding stages, we will help you choose the perfect material for the job, whilst ensuring you meet any budget requirements that you may have. We are able to custom mould in a variety of different methods such as overmoulding, rotational moulding, injection moulding, extrusions and dip moulding to suit any project. Huge product range – At Vital Parts we pride ourselves on having a vast product range to ensure we stock everything that you require. We also hold a large stock of sizes for each and every product to make sure you get the required delivery time needed. Some of our largest ranges include our tube inserts, school products (chair feet, cable tidies etc), pvc caps, masking products (silicone caps, plugs, tapes etc.) and plugs. We are also able to provide free samples for any particular product so you can get a better idea of the size and the part itself. Expertise – Every member of our Vital Parts team has expertise within the plastic and rubber industry, therefore if you require any help or further information with either measuring or finding a product then a simple phone-call or email will provide you with the answers needed. Alternatively, we run a guides section here on our blog where you can find a whole host of guides from measuring to buying, we have it all covered. Innovating the industry – We always strive to do something new within our industry, whether that’s by introducing new features to our website, or by providing unique and innovative products, such as our kit range which provide a low cost solution to cover a large range of sizes for tapes, silicone caps, silicone plugs and more! These are a unique service that only Vital Parts offer in the UK and provides excellent value for money. Turn around time – We pride ourselves at Vital Parts on our ability to provide a stellar turn-around time for each and every customer, meaning that you can rest-assured that your parts will come on time no matter the situation. We are also extremely happy to offer free delivery on all orders through our website so you can get even more parts for your money. These are just a handful of examples as to why Vital Parts is one of the leading manufacturers in the UK and why we have such a growing customer base. Our team work hard to ensure we provide the absolute best service available.

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