Type: Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET, PETE)

Properties: Clarity, strength, toughness, barrier to gas and moisture.

Common Packaging Applications: Soft drink, water and salad dressing bottles; peanut butter and jam jars
Type: High Density Polyethylene (HDPE)

Properties: Stiffness, strength, toughness, resistance to moisture, permeability to gas.

Common Packaging Applications: Milk, juice and water bottles; yogurt and margarine tubs; trash and retail bags.
Type: Polyvinyl Chloride (V)

Properties: Versatility, clarity, ease of blending, strength, toughness.

Common Packaging Applications: Juice bottles; cling films
Type: Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE)

Properties: Ease of processing, strength, toughness, flexibility, ease of sealing, barrier to moisture.

Common Packaging Applications: Frozen food bags; squeezable bottles, e.g. honey, mustard; cling films; flexible container lids.
Type: Polypropylene (PP)

Properties: Strength, toughness, resistance to heat, chemicals, grease and oil, versatile, barrier to moisture.

Common Packaging Applications: Reusable microwaveable ware; kitchenware; yogurt containers; margarine tubs; microwaveable disposable take-away containers; disposable cups and plates.
Type: Polystyrene (PS)

Properties: Versatility, clarity, easily formed

Common Packaging Applications: Egg cartons; disposable cups, plates, trays and cutlery; disposable take-away containers; yogurt and margarine containers
Type: Other

Properties: Dependent on polymers or combination or polymers.

Common Packaging Applications: Beverage bottles; baby milk bottles.

HDPE Plastics

Filed under HDPE, Plastics

…  crude oil, naphtha, which is cracked (heated at very high temperatures) in order to extract the ethylene gas which is released when the …  grades of HDPE. Ethylene naturally polymerizes at high temperatures and pressures, but it is not commercially viable to operate …

HDPE Regrind

Filed under HDPE

…  cleaned. Chemical solutions, detergents, and high temperatures are all employed in order to clean up the HDPE. This stage is …

Virgin HDPE Granules

Filed under HDPE

…  made by ‘cracking’ naphtha. When naphtha is heated to high temperatures its molecular structure breaks down and it releases ethylene gas. …  of several reactions. When ethylene is exposed to high temperatures and pressures, it naturally forms long chains and becomes …

Recycled HDPE Pellets (Repro HDPE)

Filed under HDPE

…  to its molecular structure, if heated to the correct temperature, HDPE can be melted down and reformed into new products many times …  monitored to ensure that the HDPE stays within the correct temperature range so that it does not solidify prematurely, or become …

HDPE Scrap

Filed under Glossary, HDPE

…  0.941 - 0.965 gram/cc Polyethylene. LDPE has higher temperature resistance, higher stiffness. HDPE provides a good water barrier …

What are Polymers / Plastics?

Filed under Plastics

…  moulded however it is not the best at high or low temperatures. Nylon: It generally has excellent structural and impact strength, great working temperature range and is resistant to petrol, oils and solvents. It comes in …