Polyethylene (HDPE)
The rigid, high-strength polyethylene grade — the resin behind pressure pipe, bottles, crates, caps and geomembranes worldwide.
Chelora Chemicals supplies HDPE resin in pellet form to pipe, blow-moulding and injection-moulding converters worldwide, with full documentation and consistent melt-index grades.
Product identity
- CAS Number
- 9002-88-4
- Polymer type
- Polyolefin (linear homopolymer/copolymer)
- Repeat unit
- -[CH₂-CH₂]- (minimal branching)
- Density
- 0.941-0.965 g/cm³
- Melting point
- 120-135 °C
- Form supplied
- Pellets / granules
- UN Number
- Not regulated*
- HS Code
- 3901 20
* HDPE resin pellets are not classified as dangerous goods for transport; fine powder or dust may present a combustible-dust hazard. Confirm with your regulatory affairs team.
What HDPE is used for
High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) is a rigid, semi-crystalline thermoplastic resin supplied as pellets or granules. It is produced by the low-pressure polymerisation of ethylene — alone or with a small amount of alpha-olefin comonomer — over Ziegler-Natta, chromium (Phillips) or metallocene catalysts, giving a linear chain with minimal branching, high crystallinity and the highest density and stiffness among the polyethylene grades.
HDPE's largest uses are pressure and sewer pipe, prized for its chemical resistance and long-term hydrostatic strength, and blow-moulded bottles and containers — milk jugs, detergent and chemical bottles, drums and jerrycans. It is also injection-moulded into crates, caps, closures and pails, and extruded as geomembranes and liners for landfill, pond and mining containment applications.
Where it sits in the petrochemical value chain
- Ethylene the monomer, polymerised under low pressure into HDPE. See that page.
- High Density Polyethylene (this product) the rigid, linear-chain pipe, bottle and moulding resin.
- LDPE / LLDPE related polyethylene grades with lower density and more branching for flexible applications. See LDPE and LLDPE.
Handling character
HDPE resin pellets are not classified as hazardous under normal handling, though fine powder or dust presents a combustible-dust risk. Full handling detail is in the Safety section below.
| Parameter | Typical value |
|---|---|
| Appearance | White to natural pellets |
| Melt flow index (MFI) | 0.05-25 g/10min (grade dependent) |
| Density | 0.941-0.965 g/cm³ (grade dependent) |
| PE pipe rating (where applicable) | PE80 / PE100, as agreed |
Important: the figures above are indicative of commercial material and are offered for planning only. The batch certificate of analysis is the governing document.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Physical state | Solid, rigid pellets/granules |
| Melting point | 120-135 °C |
| Density | 0.941-0.965 g/cm³ |
| Crystallinity | ~70-80% (linear, minimal branching) |
| Tensile strength | ~20-35 MPa (grade dependent) |
| Flammability | Combustible solid; fine dust can form explosive mixtures with air |
Physical constants compiled from public reference data for CAS 9002-88-4 and rounded for readability. Treat them as orientation, not as a specification.
Where our customers put HDPE to work
The rigid, chemically resistant resin behind pipe, bottles, crates and containment liners.
Pressure & sewer pipe
PE80/PE100 pipe-grade resin for water supply, gas distribution and sewer pipe systems.
- Pipe-grade specification
- Bag & bulk-bag supply
- Technical desk review on request
Blow-moulded bottles & drums
Milk jugs, detergent and chemical bottles, jerrycans and drums needing chemical resistance.
- Blow-moulding grade specification
- Documented batch traceability
- Contract & spot supply
Crates, caps & closures
Injection-moulded crates, pails, caps and closures across packaging and logistics.
- Full analytical documentation available
- Retained sample held against the lot
Geomembranes & liners
Extruded sheet for landfill, pond and mining containment liners.
- Documented batch traceability
- Technical desk review on request
Film & bags
High-molecular-weight HDPE film for grocery sacks, liners and heavy-duty bags.
- Research & process-scale quantities
- Full documentation supplied
Contract & scheduled supply
Pipe, moulding and film plants running continuous consumption are supported with scheduled bulk delivery.
- Annual contracts with scheduled call-off
- Price held across the contract period
- Second source held in reserve
How we supply Polyethylene (HDPE)
Chelora Chemicals is a supplier and sourcing partner, not a manufacturer. Pipe-rating certification and melt-index consistency are critical to pressure-pipe and moulding performance — that shapes how we manage this line.
We place your order with whichever qualified producer best matches your required grade, your price point and your delivery window, and confirm your jurisdiction's import requirements before booking.
We keep a second qualified source on this line, so a single-plant disruption never becomes your production problem.
- Melt index and density confirmed before we quote. Consistency matters to downstream pipe, bottle and moulding performance.
- PE80/PE100 pipe-grade certification documented. Grade-specific compliance paperwork confirmed before booking where required.
- Scheduled call-off scheduling. We hold contracted tonnage and release it against your consumption calendar.
- Batch traceability to the producing plant. Full chain of custody documentation on request.
- Export machinery handled in-house. Classification, approved packing, labelling, freight booking and customs paperwork are ours to manage.
- Pipe, blow-moulding and injection grades all sourced. Matched precisely to your processing specification.
Packed the way your plant receives it
Bag, bulk bag or silo delivery — tell us your preferred format and we will quote and arrange it.
Multi-wall paper or PE bags
Palletised 25 kg bags for smaller-volume orders and trial quantities.
~1,000 kg bulk bags
Flexible intermediate bulk containers sized for mid-volume converter orders.
Large-volume bulk shipment
Pneumatic bulk delivery for continuous-consumption pipe and moulding plants.
Incoterms to suit you
Quoted on the Incoterm your purchasing team works to, with documentation filed before booking.
Trial / sample quantities
Small packs dispatched for process trials before a commercial order is placed.
Contracted call-off supply
We hold contracted tonnage and release it against your consumption calendar.
Non-hazardous solid resin — handle sensibly
HDPE pellets are not classified as hazardous under GHS for normal handling, but combustible-dust and molten-polymer precautions still apply during processing. The summary below is orientation only — the safety data sheet supplied with your specific batch is the authoritative document.
Classified hazards
Not classifiedPellets/granules are not classified as hazardous under GHS.Dust noteFine powder or dust may form combustible mixtures with air and should be controlled accordingly.
Keep fines and dust controlled. Processing (grinding, pneumatic conveying) can generate fine particulate; manage static and ignition sources accordingly. Always read the SDS issued with your specific batch.
Storage
Store bagged or bulk resin in a dry, covered area away from direct sunlight and heat sources to avoid premature oxidation and discolouration.
Handling
Standard PPE (gloves, dust protection where fines are generated) is sufficient for normal handling. Observe hot-surface precautions during extrusion, moulding or welding of the molten polymer.
Transport
Not classified as dangerous goods for transport in pellet/granule form. We confirm any destination-specific import, food-contact or potable-water approval documentation your shipment requires.
Every batch, documented
We verify documentation before dispatch so there are no surprises at your incoming-goods bench.
Specification agreed
Melt index, density and pipe-rating certification confirmed against your process requirement before order placement.
Producer batch testing
The producing plant tests each batch against the agreed specification before release.
Documentation review
COA, SDS and transport/certification paperwork checked by our desk before the shipment is booked.
Traceable dispatch
Each shipment is traceable to its producing batch, with full chain-of-custody records on request.
How HDPE is made
HDPE is produced industrially by the low-pressure polymerisation of ethylene — with minimal or no comonomer — over Ziegler-Natta, chromium (Phillips) or metallocene catalysts in slurry, gas-phase or solution reactors. The near-linear chain structure packs tightly, giving HDPE its high crystallinity, density and mechanical strength relative to LDPE and LLDPE.
We do not publish operating process parameters here; this is background only. Full technical documentation accompanies every shipment, and any process-specific detail you need is best confirmed directly with our technical desk.
| Polymer family | Polyolefin (linear high-density polyethylene) |
|---|---|
| Production route | Low-pressure Ziegler-Natta, Phillips or metallocene polymerisation |
| Key properties | Rigidity, chemical resistance, long-term hydrostatic strength |
| Related compounds | Ethylene (monomer), LDPE, LLDPE (related grades) |
Explore the wider petrochemical range
Polyethylene (HDPE), answered
What is HDPE used for?
How is HDPE made?
Is HDPE hazardous?
What grade do you supply?
What packing do you offer?
Do you manufacture this yourself?
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