LDPE as a material

Plastics are now manufactured in countless variants. The most common is polyethylene. Thanks to modern processes, there are also different variations of this material today. LDPE (Low Density polyethylene) is one of them.

What kind of material is LDPE?

As its name suggests, this polyethylene has a low density, which ranges from 0.915 g/cm³ to 0.935 g/cm³. This makes the plastic very light. At the same time, PE-LD is considerably softer and more flexible than its relative, High-Density Polyethylene. Consequently, it is, however, less resistant to abrasion than its harder relative. LDPE is temperature resistant and can be used at temperatures from -40°C to 46°C. At 46°C, the heat resistance of containers begins to weaken.

LDPE - Questions & Answers

What are the advantages of LDPE plastic?

Low-density polyethylene offers several advantages as a packaging material. Due to its low density, it is not only significantly lighter than glass packaging, but also beats many plastics in terms of weight. Its softer consistency makes it particularly break-resistant. The material's high flexibility makes it ideal for containers that need to be deformable, such as tubes. The plastic is also perfect for films and bags. Since LDPE also has excellent electrical insulating properties, it is also used in the manufacture of cables. Another advantage of this plastic is that it is cheaper to produce than glass and, due to its significantly lower energy consumption, it is also more environmentally friendly. This means that the packaging made from it is also very cost-effective.

What are the disadvantages of LDPE?

Untreated, the surface is difficult to print on and stick things to directly. Therefore, it usually needs to be treated for packaging so that the necessary information can be added.

What does LDPE look like?

Natural-colored (undyed) LDPE is milky transparent to translucent. Thanks to its good transparency, the fill levels of the contents can be easily seen in LDPE packaging.

Is LDPE suitable for food?

Like all polyethylenes, PE-LD is physiologically harmless. This means that it does not release any substances that can be metabolized by the human body or otherwise affect it. The material is therefore also suitable for packaging food and pharmaceutical products.

How durable is LDPE plastic?

Low-density polyethylene packaging can be used to contain many products. These include acids, bases, and alcohols. Low-density polyethylene is ideally suited for these groups of substances. The plastic is also suitable as a packaging material for substances from the group of aldehydes, ketones, and vegetable oils. However, its use is limited for aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons, mineral oil, and oxidizing compounds. LDPE should not be used at all for halogenated hydrocarbons. These compounds cause the material to swell and penetrate the packaging wall.

In which areas can I use LDPE?

Thanks to its wide range of applications, LDPE is suitable for packaging a wide variety of substances from different industries. PE-LD is of interest to the pharmaceutical and food industries as well as to manufacturers of chemical products, paint producers, and cosmetics companies.

On the one hand, it offers an inexpensive packaging option. On the other hand, its physiological safety allows it to be used for products such as food and medicines that are consumed by the consumer. The flexibility of the material is ideal for pastes and creams that are to be packaged in tubes. This allows the consumer to easily squeeze the contents out of the tube.

Is LDPE waterproof?

When combined with the right closure, this type of packaging is ideal for liquids. When liquids are packaged in low-density polyethylene, the material scores points for its transparency, among other things. This allows the fill level in the package to be seen at any time. For example, this type of packaging provides a quick overview of how full the container still is when used for paints and varnishes.

For varnishes, paints, and other chemical products, it is also extremely important that the substances from the above-mentioned groups do not attack the plastic or dissolve compounds that could impair its quality.

Is LDPE environmentally friendly?

Not only is the manufacturing process more environmentally friendly than that of glass bottles, but when the used containers are recycled, LDPE can be 100% recycled as a raw material (DIN EN 13430). The plastic used for packaging can be turned back into plastic for packaging and many other applications, everyday items, etc. The recycling of LDPE is possible – if recycling as a raw material is not possible for any reason, LDPE can be used for energy recovery (DIN EN 13431). Like HDPE, it has a calorific value, and wherever waste incineration enables district heating for the municipality, this plastic can be burned with a benefit, without residues or emissions, thus saving primary fossil fuels.

How do I dispose of LDPE?

Unfortunately, LDPE is not compostable, even under industrial conditions, so please do not leave used LDPE packaging lying around in the environment. Transport packaging made of LDPE, packaging films of all colors, and other PE films are recyclable materials and should be disposed of in the yellow bag/bin.