Polyethylene (PE):
LDPE, LLDPE and HDPE Properties Comparison

Advanced Guide for A to Z Information on PE

The Polyethylene plastic family encompasses a variety of materials, named depending on their density and branching.

Explore the variation of properties between the 3 main class: Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE), Linear Low Density Polyethylene (LLDPE) and High Density Polyethylene.

Polyethylene (PE) Key applications Typical Properties Suppliers Brands

Keeping information about the properties of a thermoplastic beforehand is always beneficial. This helps in selecting the right engineering thermoplastic for a particular application. It also assists in evaluating if the end use requirement would be fulfilled or not.

The table below comprises of all relevant properties of LDPE, LLDPE and HDPE. From physical properties, dimensional stability, electrical performances to fire and thermal properties, find out every possible attribute with its values here.

Property	LDPE	LLDPE	HDPE
Dimensional Stability
Coefficient of Linear Thermal Expansion	10 - 20 x 10^-5 /°C	-	6 - 11 x 10^-5 /°C
Shrinkage	2 - 4 %	2 - 2.5 %	1.5 - 4 %
Water Absorption 24 hours	0.005 - 0.015 %	0.005 - 0.01 %	0.005 - 0.01 %
Electrical Performances
Arc Resistance	130 - 160 sec	-	100 - 180 sec
Dielectric Constant	2.3	2.3	2.3
Dielectric Strength	16 - 28 kV/mm	-	17 - 24 kV/mm
Dissipation Factor	3 - 4 x 10^-4	-	3 - 20 x 10^-4
Volume Resistivity	16 - 18 x 10¹⁵ Ohm.cm	16 - 18 x 10¹⁵ Ohm.cm	16 - 18 x 10¹⁵ Ohm.cm
Fire Performances
Fire Resistance (LOI)	17 - 18 %	17 - 18 %	17 - 18 %
Flammability UL94	HB	HB	HB
Mechanical Properties
Elongation at Break	200 - 600 %	300 - 900 %	500 - 700 %
Elongation at Yield	13 - 17.5 %	3 - 16 %	15 %
Flexibility (Flexural Modulus)	0.245 - 0.335 GPa	0.28 - 0.735 GPa	0.75 - 1.575 GPa
Hardness Rockwell M	1	1	1
Hardness Shore D	40 - 50	55 - 56	60 - 70
Stiffness (Flexural Modulus)	0.245 - 0.335 GPa	0.28 - 0.735 GPa	0.75 - 1.575 GPa
Strength at Break (Tensile)	10 - 20 MPa	25 - 45 MPa	30 - 40 MPa
Strength at Yield (Tensile)	10 - 15 MPa	10 - 30 MPa	25 - 30 MPa
Toughness (Notched Izod Impact at Room Temperature)	999 J/m	54 - 999 J/m	20 - 220 J/m
Toughness at Low Temperature (Notched Izod Impact at Low Temperature)	240 - 694 J/m	294 - 970 J/m	-
Young Modulus	0.13 - 0.3 GPa	0.266 - 0.525 GPa	0.5 - 1.1 GPa
Optical Properties
Gloss	35 - 97 %	32 - 85 %	5 - 120 %
Haze	1.3 - 27.5 %	0.8 - 28 %	6 %
Transparency (% Visible Light Transmission)	80 %	-	80 %
Physical Properties
Density	0.917 - 0.94 g/cm³	0.915 - 0.95 g/cm³	0.94 - 0.97 g/cm³
Glass Transition Temperature	-110°C	-110°C	-110°C
Radiation Resistance
UV Light Resistance	Fair	Fair	Poor
Gamma Radiation Resistance	-	-	Fair
Service Temperature
Ductile / Brittle Transition Temperature	-70 °C	-70 °C	-70 °C
HDT @0.46 Mpa (67 psi)	40 - 50 °C	-	60 - 90 °C
HDT @1.8 Mpa (264 psi)	30 - 40 °C	-	45 - 60 °C
Max Continuous Service Temperature	80 - 100 °C	90 - 110 °C	100 - 120 °C
Min Continuous Service Temperature	-70 °C	-70 °C	-70 °C
Others Properties
Thermal Insulation (Thermal Conductivity)	0.32 - 0.35 W/m.K	0.35 - 0.45 W/m.K	0.45 - 0.5 W/m.K
Sterilization Resistance (Repeated)	-	-	Poor
Chemical Properties
Acetone @ 100%, 20°C	Limited	Limited	Limited
Ammonium hydroxide @ 30%, 20°C	Satisfying	Satisfying	Satisfying
Ammonium hydroxide @ diluted, 20°C	Satisfying	Satisfying	Satisfying
Ammonium hydroxide @ diluted, 60°C	Satisfying	Satisfying	Satisfying
Aromatic hydrocarbons @ 20°C	Non Satisfactory	Non Satisfactory	Non Satisfactory
Aromatic hydrocarbons @ hot conditions	Non Satisfactory	Non Satisfactory	Non Satisfactory
Benzene @ 100%, 20°C	Non Satisfactory	Non Satisfactory	Limited
Butylacetate @ 100%, 20°C	Limited	Limited	Satisfying
Chlorinated solvents @ 20°C	Non Satisfactory	Non Satisfactory	Non Satisfactory
Chloroform @ 20°C	Non Satisfactory	Non Satisfactory	Non Satisfactory
Dioctylphtalate @ 100%, 100°C	Non Satisfactory	Non Satisfactory	-
Dioctylphtalate @ 100%, 20°C	Limited	Limited	Satisfying
Dioctylphtalate @ 100%, 60°C	Non Satisfactory	Non Satisfactory	Limited
Ethanol @ 96%, 20°C	Limited	Limited	Satisfying
Ethyleneglycol (Ethane diol) @ 100%, 20°C	Satisfying	Satisfying	Satisfying
Ethyleneglycol (Ethane diol) @ 100%, 50°C	Satisfying	Satisfying	Satisfying
Glycerol @ 100%, 20°C	Satisfying	Satisfying	Satisfying
Hydrogen peroxide @ 30%, 60°C	Limited	Limited	Satisfying
Kerosene @ 20°C	Limited	Limited	Satisfying
Methanol @ 100%, 20°C	Satisfying	Satisfying	Satisfying
Methylethyl ketone @ 100%, 20°C	Limited	Limited	Satisfying
Mineral oil @ 20°C	Limited	Limited	Satisfying
Phenol @ 20°C	Satisfying	Satisfying	Satisfying
Silicone oil @ 20°C	Satisfying	Satisfying	Satisfying
Sodium hydroxide @ 40%	Satisfying	Satisfying	Satisfying
Sodium hydroxide @ 10%, 20°C	Satisfying	Satisfying	Satisfying
Sodium hydroxide @ 10%, 60°C	-	-	Satisfying
Sodium hypochlorite @ 20%, 20°C	Satisfying	Satisfying	Satisfying
Strong acids @ concentrated, 20°C	-	-	Satisfying
Toluene @ 20°C	Non Satisfactory	Non Satisfactory	Limited
Toluene @ 60°C	Non Satisfactory	Non Satisfactory	Non Satisfactory
Xylene @ 20°C	Non Satisfactory	Non Satisfactory	Limited

Polyethylene (PE): LDPE, LLDPE and HDPE Properties Comparison

Polyethylene (PE):
LDPE, LLDPE and HDPE Properties Comparison